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*FOR** IMMEDIATE RELEASE
*Contact: [email protected]

*MGCB Marks Responsible Gaming Education Month with $150,000 Boost for School Booster Clubs*
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""Board tops $150,000 in booster club funding after committing full $50,000 boost with $100,000 more confirmed starting October 1"

DETROIT, Sept. 2, 2026 — September is Responsible Gaming Education Month (RGEM), a national awareness initiative led by the American Gaming Association to educate consumers, increase awareness of problem gambling, and promote gaming literacy. In recognition of RGEM, the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) today announced it has surpassed $100,000 in funding awarded to school-affiliated booster clubs through its High School Boosters Program [ [link removed] ], part of its "Don’t Bet on Your Future" campaign [ [link removed] ] — a first-of-its-kind statewide initiative that enlists booster organizations as frontline advocates for youth gambling prevention.

*About the High School Boosters Program*
At the heart of the initiative is the High School Boosters Program [ [link removed] ], which invites school-affiliated booster clubs across Michigan to become frontline advocates for youth gambling prevention. Participating organizations can earn up to $4,000 by sharing MGCB-approved messaging about underage gambling risks through channels they already use — digital and social media ads, scoreboards, event programs, and school newsletters. Eligible organizations also receive evidence-based resources designed to support parents, coaches, and students.


The program is built on a simple insight: young people trust the adults in their school community. By delivering education and prevention messaging through coaches, athletic directors, and booster volunteers — rather than traditional public service announcements — the MGCB is reaching teens with a message that is both credible and timely.

To build on this momentum, the MGCB committed an additional $50,000 to the program for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2026 — funding that has already been fully awarded to eligible booster clubs, bringing total funding distributed through the program to $150,000. The Board has also confirmed that a new pool of $100,000 in funding will be available to booster clubs beginning October 1, when the state’s Fiscal Year 2027 begins.

“Responsible Gaming Education Month is the perfect moment to celebrate this exciting milestone,” said* Henry Williams, Executive Director of the Michigan Gaming Control Board*. “Together, we have successfully distributed $150,000 in funding to booster clubs across the state, and the additional $50,000 we committed to close out this fiscal year is already spoken for. Congratulations to everyone involved in reaching this remarkable achievement — it reflects the hard work, commitment, and teamwork that have made this program such a success. The demand we’ve seen tells us this program is working, and we’re not stopping here: another $100,000 becomes available October 1, so there will be more opportunities for booster clubs to get involved soon.”

*$50,000 Boost Already Committed — More Coming October 1*
The additional $50,000 committed for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2026 has already been fully awarded to eligible booster clubs, reflecting the strong demand the program has seen from schools statewide. A separate pool of $100,000 in new funding will become available October 1, at the start of Fiscal Year 2027, giving school-affiliated booster clubs statewide another opportunity to participate.

*Why Now: Responsible Gaming Education Month*
Each September, the American Gaming Association leads Responsible Gaming Education Month, a national effort joined by casino operators, sportsbooks, lotteries, and state regulators to raise awareness of problem gambling and promote healthier gaming habits. The MGCB is marking this year’s observance by highlighting the High School Boosters Program [ [link removed] ] and expanding its reach, reinforcing the Board’s year-round commitment to preventing underage and problem gambling in Michigan communities.

*Booster Clubs Already Making an Impact*
More than 30 booster clubs representing school districts across Michigan — from Menominee and Hancock in the Upper Peninsula to Alen Park and Troy in southeast Michigan — have already received funding through the program. Participating organizations include: Allen Park HS (Allen Park HS Booster Club); Boys and Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan (3C Sports Programming); Busy Learning Active Children Keystone (Jr Big Reds); Chippewa Valley Schools (Dakota Boosters); Columbia Central Jr. Sr. HS (Columbia Athletic Boosters); Corunna HS (Corunna Athletic Club); Dansville Community Schools (Men’s Basketball Team); Eaton Rapids HS (Eaton Rapids Athletic Boosters); Hancock Public Schools (Hancock All-Sports Boosters); Hanover-Horton (Hanover-Horton Athletic Boosters); Hanover-Horton HS (Boys Basketball Program): Harper Creek Community Schools (Harper Creek Beaver Boosters); Hartland HS (Hartland Unified); Hillsdale HS (Hillsdale Track and Field); Lawton HS (Lawton Athletic Boosters); Leslie HS (Leslie HS Athletics); Manistique HS (Manistique Athletic Booster Club); Mason Public Schools (Mason Basketball); Menominee Area Public Schools (Menominee Maroons Athletic Booster Club); Olivet High School (Olivet Boys Basketball); Our Lady of the Lake, St. Joseph (Laker Athletic Club); Pinckney Community HS (Pinckney Community HS Athletic Dept.); Plymouth HS (Plymouth Wildcats Cheer Booster Club); Plymouth-Canton Community Schools (Plymouth-Canton Music Boosters); Port Huron Northern HS (Port Huron Northern Athletic Boosters); Quincy Schools (Quincy Athletic Boosters); Troy Athens HS (Troy Athens Athletic Boosters Foundation); Troy HS (Troy High Athletic Boosters); Troy High School (Troy High Band Boosters); Vandercook Lake MS/HS (Vandercook Lake Athletics); Vassar HS (Vassar Athletic Association); and Walled Lake Central HS (WLCGVB Boosters).

*How Booster Clubs Can Apply*
School-affiliated booster clubs statewide are encouraged to visit DontBetOnYourFuture.org [ [link removed] ] to learn more and apply. A new round of $100,000 in funding opens October 1 for Fiscal Year 2027. Booster clubs and schools with questions about the program can reach the MGCB at [email protected].

 

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"Gambling in any form is for entertainment purposes only. If you or someone you know may have a gambling problem, call *1-800-GAMBLER*, ""chat online" [ [link removed] ]", or visit ""800gambler.org" [ [link removed] ]". Help is available 24/7, free and confidential. Michigan residents can also visit the ""MGCB's Responsible Gaming page" [ [link removed] ]" for information on self-exclusion programs, including the Disassociated Persons List and the Internet Gaming and Sports Betting Responsible Gaming Database. Through a partnership with Gamban, Michigan residents can claim a free license for Gamban's gambling blocking software — visit ""Michigan.gov/MGCB" [ [link removed] ]" to learn more. Additional responsible gaming tools are available at ""DontRegretTheBet.org" [ [link removed] ]". The Michigan Gaming Control Board shall ensure the conduct of fair and honest gaming to protect the interests of Michigan citizens. Learn more at ""Michigan.gov/MGCB" [ [link removed] ]".

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*PDF files:*

* MGCB Celebrates Boosters Program Milestone - September 2026.pdf [ [link removed] ]

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