The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) is pleased to announce the official launch of “PlayMyWay”, a brand new responsible gaming initiative that gives casino patrons with a voluntary strategy to budget and track their play. Now available at Plainridge Park Casino (PPC), the PlayMyWay program is an innovative budgeting tool designed to permit customers the power to observe the amount of cash they spend on electronic gaming machines, and to support their decision to continue or stop play. PlayMyWay is an optional electronic system through which slot machine players can have a possibility to personalize their play by setting the cheap before they start gambling.

A first-of-its-kind initiative within the United States, this pilot program is a part of a comprehensive strategy to responsible gaming strategies implemented by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, with a selected do something about problem gambling prevention and customer protection practices. PlayMyWay is meant to assist players make decisions about gambling, let them monitor and understand their playing behavior in real time, and support their decisions. The PlayMyWay program is the newest tool added to MGC’s wide-ranging and unique responsible gaming framework referred to as GameSense.

“The PlayMyWay initiative provides MGC and Plainridge Park Casino with crucial opportunity to advance responsible gaming by implementing technology that supports informed player choice. A player must have all of the necessary information and resources available to make well-informed decisions on when to gamble, when to prevent and what kind of to spend,” said Mark Vander Linden, MGC’s director of study and responsible gaming. “It is exciting so as to add this valuable tool to our distinctively comprehensive GameSense program.”

This test program is now offered to Marquee Rewards Card members at Plainridge Park Casino. Marquee Rewards players could have the chance to sign up for this system at any slot machine, GameSense Kiosk or on the GameSense Info Center located inside Plainridge Park Casino. The computerized program will prompt card holders to voluntarily choose a daily, weekly and/or monthly budget to trace their spending at PPC. Once enrolled, patrons will receive automatic notifications as they approach 50% and 75% of the spent budget. Players may even receive a notification after they reach 100% of the budget and in the event that they continue to play, notifications could be received at 25% intervals. This program is exactly voluntary and a player can un-enroll or adjust the budget at any time. A player too can decide to stop at any point or keep playing.

“Pursuant to a company mandate from the Legislature, I'M proud to recognize that Massachusetts has already established a sequence of unique new initiatives to advertise responsible gaming, and is building a name nationwide as progressive innovators in responsible gaming strategies. We will be able to continue to work with our licensees and our partners to design and implement essentially the most comprehensive and effective responsible gaming program within the country,” said MGC Chairman

Steve Crosby. “The development, launch and ongoing assessment of PlayMyWay is a team effort and I’d love to extend our appreciation to Scientific Games, Plainridge Park Casino, the Mass Council on Compulsive Gambling, and the Harvard Medical School-affiliated Division on Addiction at Cambridge Health Alliance for his or her continued collaboration and cooperation.”

MGC previously approved the adoption and implementation of PlayMyWay as a pilot program at Plainridge Park Casino. PlayMyWay is a custom-designed application developed by Scientific Games. The integrated play management software utilizes a simple, easy to know interface that incorporates graphics to help players. The entire cost of development and implementation is approximately $150,000.

Lastly, MGC has contracted with the Cambridge Health Alliance to carefully evaluate this test program for long-term effectiveness and usefulness. MGC will continue working closely with its strategic partners to closely monitor and assess the program’s functionality.

Read More... [Source: Gaming Industry News]