The Arizona Department of Gaming and Arizona Lottery are working together throughout September to promote responsible play and connect residents with resources designed to prevent and address gambling-related harm. The effort comes as Arizona recognizes September 2026 as Responsible Gaming Education Month, following a proclamation from Governor Katie Hobbs.
The initiative focuses on Arizonans age 21 and older who take part in Arizona sports betting and other forms of legal gambling. The state is using the month to raise awareness of responsible gaming practices, expand education and make support resources easier to find.
New Campaign Promotes Responsible Play
On September 1, the Department launched its Responsible Play for a Stronger Arizona digital marketing campaign in collaboration with the Arizona Media Association. The campaign encourages people to set limits on their time and spending before they play, treat gambling as entertainment rather than a way to make money, and take regular breaks. It also includes a new public service announcement and is running across digital, streaming and social media platforms, along with print, television and radio advertising in English and Spanish. The campaign reaches people using AZ betting apps as well as those wagering at retail locations.
Communities Encouraged to Promote Resources
The Department and Lottery are asking cities and towns across Arizona to participate by adopting their own Responsible Gaming Education Month proclamations and making responsible gaming resources easier to find through community webpages.
Responsible Gaming Resources for Arizonans
Resources for responsible gambling in Arizona include a confidential, 24/7 problem gambling helpline at 1-800-NEXT-STEP, along with treatment counseling, financial counseling and voluntary self-exclusion.
Additional information is available through the Department's Responsible Gaming page and the Arizona Lottery's responsible gaming page, including the online, on-demand Responsible Gaming Training. State agencies, community organizations and other partners can also use the Department's Responsible Gaming toolkit to share information throughout September.
