State Internet Responsible Gambling Standards Are Off To A Good Start But Still Short of Best Practice
WASHINGTON, D.C. (PRWEB) February 12, 2014 -- The first three states to legalize casino-style internet gambling have developed a range of responsible gambling regulations, yet all fall short of the National Council on Problem Gambling’s Internet Responsible Gambling Standards. The Standards were developed in 2012 from best practices in responsible gaming codes and regulations from around the world combined with NCPG’s 42 years of experience in problem gambling policy.
“It is critical to set and maintain a high standard for internet gaming as it is clear that some who gamble online will develop problems and that these problems are serious” stated NCPG Executive Director Keith Whyte. Studies throughout the world find relatively high rates of gambling problems among those who gamble online, though the causal connection is unclear. Regardless, since online gamblers are known to have problems, it is important to adopt comprehensive responsible gaming policies. “Therefore we must harness the full power of technology to create informed consumers with access to a variety of information designed to encourage safer choices and discourage unsafe behavior. We appreciate that Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey adopted many of our recommendations, and as jurisdictions gain experience in this area we look forward to feedback from regulators, operators and gamblers themselves on how to evaluate and enhance these Standards.”
NCPG commissioned GamblingCompliance to conduct this first-ever public survey of online responsible gaming policies in order to assess the level of regulation in the emerging internet gambling sector. It is important to note the analysis did not include online lottery or racing. Nor did the study look at voluntary responsible gaming efforts put in place by gaming operators that may meet or exceed the Standards, though NCPG intends to examine compliance in the near future.
“It is clear that our Internet Responsible Gambling Standards had a positive impact on the development of state internet gambling regulations” continued Whyte. “As more and more states consider legalizing and regulating online gaming, it is vital to incorporate these responsible gaming best practices as problem gambling is not just an individual concern; it often leads to negative consequences for the entire community. Nationwide, gambling addiction costs society at least $6 billion per year.”
If gambling is a problem for you or someone you know, hope and help is available at any time. The National Problem Gambling Helpline (1-800-522-4700) is accessible 24/7 and you will be directed to resources in your area. Calls are free and confidential.
The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) is the national advocate for programs and services to assist problem gamblers and their families. NCPG was founded in 1972 and is neutral on legalized gambling. For more information, please visit http://www.ncpgambling.org. The Internet Responsible Gambling Standards and the NCPG US Online Responsible Gaming Regulations report are found at http://www.ncpgambling.org/irgstandards.
Contact:
Keith Whyte
National Council on Problem Gambling
703.980.2140
keithw(at)ncpgambling(dot)org
Keith Whyte, National Council on Problem Gambling, http://www.ncpgambling.org, +1 703.980.2140, [email protected]
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