Michigan’s award-winning responsible gambling program “Don’t Regret The Bet” has been allocated $3 million in funding.
The money is allocated in the Fiscal Year 2024 state budget. This comes following support from the office of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and legislators.
The “Don’t Regret The Bet” website was launched last March with a website and advertising campaign across the state to promote responsible use of legal sports betting and casino play under the auspices of the Michigan Gaming Control Board.
Specifically, Michigan is one of only six states that currently has active legal online casino and sports betting apps.
Award-winning responsible gambling campaign
“Don’t Regret The Bet” won awards for best digital marketing campaign at the 2023 Platinum Viddy Awards and the Platinum dotCOMM Awards this past year.
Notably, the state spent an estimated $2.3 million on the program in conjunction with King Media. The digital marketing agency with offices in Lansing, Grand Rapids, and St. Joseph. That agency has also worked with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and other government agencies on marketing projects.
The “Don’t Regret The Bet” program provides resources for educating on the topic of responsible gambling and gambling addiction. The site offers self-assessment tools for visitors. And, a portion of the taxes levied on betting activity in the state assists in funding treatment screening and other programs for RG in Michigan.
MGCB wants RG education as part of public school curriculum
According to the state, the continued funding for the marketing campaign will help produce advertisements. The ads will be both for traditional television and radio, as well as online and social media.
King Media will also be creating a new series of videos on responsible gambling for Michigan. And, a social media ad campaign will also be launched to drive traffic to the “Don’t Regret The Bet” website.
The success of the “Don’t Regret The Bet” program has led Michigan Gov. Whitmer to include $3 million in funding in her proposed FY 2024 budget. The money will be used by the MGCB to continue and expand the program.
So far, lawmakers from both parties have shown support. One of the initiatives that the MGCB has set forth is to add Responsible Gambling education as a part of curriculum in the state’s public schools. It is an issue that many leaders in the state seem to be support.
The MGCB Responsible Gaming resources line is 1-800-270-7117.
