Indiana, US: Hoosier lottery pushing further on Corporate Social Responsibility.
Hoosier Lottery Promotes Responsible Gaming with Grants, Treatment Resources, and Research Support
The Hoosier Lottery, a member of the World Lottery Association, is committed to promoting responsible gaming and providing treatment resources for those affected by problem gambling. In addition, the lottery supports academic research to better understand and address problem gambling.
The Hoosier Lottery offers Conference and Training Grants to students, treatment providers, and advocates. In 2022, the lottery awarded two conference and training grants, a student research grant, and a small research grant, for a total of $32,898.46 in grant funding. These grants support essential research and training in the field of problem gambling.
The lottery also tracks treatment referral inquiries through various tools, including retailer terminals, a customer service call centre, and a chat function on its website. In the second half of 2022, there were over 165,000 calls to the customer service line, with 115 calls transferred to the problem gambling hotline. Treatment referral is a critical element of the lottery's marketing code of conduct, and the lottery is committed to providing resources and support for those affected by problem gambling.
The Hoosier Lottery partners with the Indiana Council on Problem Gambling (ICPG) to promote responsible gaming awareness and education. The Responsible Gaming Committee, a sub-committee of the ICPG, holds quarterly meetings to discuss new tools and research in the field of responsible gaming. The lottery’s upcoming meeting in April will feature a discussion on the Indiana Secretary of State’s financial literacy program.
In addition to its ongoing efforts to promote responsible gaming and provide treatment resources, the Hoosier Lottery is launching a full marketing campaign for Problem Gambling Awareness Month in March. The campaign includes press releases, social media campaigns, radio and print ads, and a new logo with a text option for treatment referral. The lottery will also launch its redesigned "Track Your Play calculator" in April for Financial Literacy Month.
The Hoosier Lottery’s commitment to promoting responsible gaming, providing treatment resources, and supporting academic research reflects its goal of being a responsible corporate citizen and making a positive impact in the communities it serves.
The journey towards sustainability and safer gambling is long, and these are important and needed steps forward for the better.