Michigan Gaming Control Board Highlights Responsible Gaming Education Month

DETROIT, Sept. 11, 2025 — As the NFL season kicks off, the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) is joining regulators and industry leaders nationwide in recognizing September as Responsible Gaming Education Month, underscoring the agency’s ongoing commitment to consumer protection and safe gaming practices.

The American Gaming Association (AGA) estimates Americans will wager an estimated $30 billion on the 2025 NFL season through legal U.S. sportsbooks, an 8.5% increase from last season’s $27.6 billion. Since the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2018 decision to overturn the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), support for regulated wagering has expanded, with 75% of Americans supporting legal sports betting in their state and 90% viewing it as an acceptable form of entertainment.

“Responsible Gaming Education Month reminds us that gaming should always be safe, legal, and fun,” said MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams. “We want Michigan residents to enjoy gaming responsibly, understand the risks, and know how to recognize and avoid illegal operators that put consumers at risk.”

The MGCB is currently promoting two major awareness campaigns:

• Play It Smart, Michigan, which educates iGaming patrons about misleading online casino ads and provides guidance on how to identify unlicensed websites.
• Don’t Regret the Bet, a statewide responsible gaming campaign launched in 2023 that encourages players to set limits, know the odds, and keep gaming as a form of entertainment rather than a financial strategy. Since its launch, the campaign has raised awareness across TV, radio, digital, and social platforms, helping spread the message of responsible play to Michigan residents statewide.

The agency urges players to use only authorized operators, which are listed on the MGCB’s official website at Michigan.gov/MGCB.

To further support responsible play, the MGCB offers a Legal vs. Illegal Gaming webpage that explains the differences between regulated operators and unauthorized sites. Consumers are encouraged to review this resource to ensure they are playing safely and within Michigan law.

For more resources on responsible gaming, visit:

• Michigan.gov/MGCB
• DontRegretTheBet.org
• HaveAGamePlan.org

Gambling in any form is for entertainment purposes only. If you or someone you know may have a gambling problem, contact the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER, text 800GAM, or visit www.1800gamblerchat.org. Help is available 24/7 and is free and confidential. Michigan citizens can also visit the Responsible Gaming page of the MGCB website for information on self-exclusion programs including the Disassociated Persons List and the Internet Gaming and Sports Betting Responsible Gaming Database, and DontRegretTheBet.org for additional tools to game responsibly.

The Michigan Gaming Control Board shall ensure the conduct of fair and honest gaming to protect the interests of the citizens of the state of Michigan. Learn more at Michigan.gov/MGCB.