Hudson Valley Casino Lights Up For Problem Gambling Awareness Month

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Empire City Casino’s iconic porte cochère will shine blue and yellow throughout the month of March, in support of Problem Gambling Awareness Month.

Empire City Casino is collaborating with the Mid-Hudson Problem Gambling Resource Center to shine a light on responsible gaming practices.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Problem Gambling Awareness Month, designed to coincide each year with March Madness, the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament with 68 teams competing in seven rounds for the national championship, during which Americans typically wager over $3 billion.

Throughout March, Empire City said it hopes to raise awareness around the need for responsible gaming by lighting the entertainment destination’s iconic porte cochère in blue and yellow — blue being the official color of Problem Gambling Awareness month and yellow in support of the "Shine a Light" initiative led by the New York Council on Problem Gambling.

Empire City will also host a problem gambling screening event on March 14, to help players ensure that they are gaming responsibly. The free screening will consist of a brief questionnaire and educational resources to raise awareness and promote prevention of problem gaming. Experts with specialized training in the area of responsible gaming will offer best practices and highlight Problem Gambling Awareness Month initiatives.

The casino said its efforts to support responsible gaming are not limited to the month of March. As part of MGM Resorts, Empire City incorporates an award-winning responsible gaming program, "GameSense," which focuses on ensuring a positive, transparent and safe gaming environment for visitors.

Empire City joined the GameSense initiative shortly after MGM Resorts acquired the property in 2019. GameSense messaging and responsible gaming tips are displayed prominently throughout the gaming floor and QR codes are placed on slot machines to offer immediate access to responsible gaming information and educational materials.

All Empire City employees receive annual GameSense training and a select number of leaders are trained as GameSense Advisors, by completing additional training to provide immediate assistance to anyone who may need it, according to the casino.

"Empire City is committed to promoting responsible gaming both through GameSense and through our partnerships to ensure our employees and guests have the necessary tools and resources to facilitate and encourage a fun, safe gaming environment for all to enjoy," Empire City GM Casino Ed Domingo explained.

Problem gambling is defined as all gambling behavior patterns that compromise, disrupt or damage personal, family or vocational pursuits and interfere with daily life. For the majority of adults, gambling is a fun and entertaining experience, according to industry leaders, but for a small portion of the population, it ceases to be fun and becomes problematic.

Approximately two million U.S. adults, or about one percent of the population, are estimated to meet the criteria for severe problem gambling. Approximately four percent of adult New Yorkers are estimated to have experienced problem gambling.

Problem Gambling Awareness Month brings together a wide range of stakeholders, including public health organizations, treatment providers, advocacy groups and gambling operators to work collaboratively to let people know that there is help for those who may need it. The hashtag for this year’s campaign is #PGAM2023, which participants are encouraged to use across social media platforms.

For more information about increasing the awareness of responsible gaming, visit the National Council on Problem Gambling website and the Empire City Casino website.