Arizona’s Safety Net: How the Lottery Makes Responsible Gaming a Priority

Gambling is in the midst of a big boom. Though state-by-state legislation has slowed to a degree, access is now more widespread than ever. Options are multiplying, and gamblers have more choices than ever.

As the industry continues its rapid expansion path, so must the responsible gambling (RG) programs that help keep it in check.  

In an interview with PlayUSA, Alec Thomson, executive director of the Arizona Lottery, discusses where problem gambling in Arizona and the country stands in 2026, what operators can do to make a difference (beyond just checking a box), and how retail can power RG programs in new ways.  

Gambling as entertainment

The "play for fun” mantra has been the guiding message around gambling for a long time. It’s easy to tune out the "entertainment” aspect, though, when you’ve heard it for years.

Or when your four-leg parlay wager comes up one leg short.

So how do you convey the "gambling is entertainment” message in a way that actually lands?

Thomson takes a practical approach: Tie it to something people already understand. 

"Just like you’d pay for a concert or a baseball game, your gaming budget should be evaluated and set based on similar considerations. If you walk away with a win, that’s a great encore, but the win should never be an expectation.” 

Gambling is like buying a ticket to a concert, Thomson said. You know the price of the ticket before you buy it. Gambling should be the same.

Thomson encourages players to set a limit and treat it the same way they’d treat a dining or travel budget. 

"We make it a priority to remind players that once the fun stops and any form of financial stress begins, the entertainment value has evaporated.” 

• https://www.playusa.com/news/arizonas-safety-net-how-the-lottery-makes-responsible-gaming-a-priority/