MGM Introduces GameSense Resources into Empire City Casino
GameSense has been a staple of responsible gambling education at MGM Resort casinos for the last two years, and is now being added to recent acquisition Empire City Casino in Yonkers, New York.
The responsible gambling program has been nationwide in the US for the last few years, mostly through MGM Resorts properties, as well as the Connecticut Lottery. Empire City Casino, and larger operation Yonkers Raceway, have been owned by MGM since January.
What is GameSense?
GameSense is a strategy and resource guide for gamblers to use and try to educate themselves on the various ways on gambling, from poker to lottery games.
The site was originally launched in Canada in 2009, where gambling is much more prevalent. Since launching in the US in 2017, it’s slowly been gaining traction as a way to help gamblers curve unhealthy habits and has partnered with various gambling programs and companies.
The most extensive use of GameSense is through MGM, which offers players its own version of GameSense, as well as contact forms and self-limit/self-exclusion resources if players think their habits are getting out of control.
As well as being a resource for gamblers who are seeking help, it provides information about first-time players who are unfamiliar with various forms of gambling. Information about gambling myths and how machines work is also available for those curious about how some aspects of gambling works.
Most gambling companies have some form of educational and self-help page for gamblers to take advantage of, and GameSense is that for MGM. In-person GameSense will be integrated into Empire City Casino’s guest services, according to the casino’s press release.
“It’s exciting to introduce MGM programs, such as GameSense, to our guests,” said Empire City Casino President & COO Uri Clinton. “This program epitomizes the MGM culture – it’s innovative, forward-thinking and puts our guests first. We look forward to introducing GameSense to the community.”
GameSense will be an important feature at Empire City Casino going forward as the casino expands to hold more varieties of games. Currently, the casino only offers video-lottery games operated by the New York state lottery. MGM would like to expand to include table games when New York lifts the ban on casino expansion.
MGM’s Acquisition of Empire City Casino
Implementing GameSense is the latest move that MGM has made as they settle into Yonkers, New York. The casino giant purchased Yonkers Raceway and the on-site Empire City Casino in January 2019 for $850 million.
Implementing GameSense is the first real move made by MGM to make the casino their own. For the most part, there hasn’t been much change to how empire City Casino has gone about business since being taken over from the Rooney Family, famously the owners of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Yonkers Raceway had ben under ownership of the Rooney Family since 1972, helping open Empire City Casino in 2006.
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