Lawmakers comprising the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS) recently convened to create a comprehensive standard for all gaming states to use as a blueprint regarding the issue of problem gambling.
Making Betting Safer
The growth of U.S. sports betting has delivered billions of dollars in revenue since PASPA was overturned in 2018, paving the way for the licensed and regulated iGaming and online sports betting market we now enjoy in 34 states and counting.
However, like anything else, there will always be a small number of people who will suffer as a result due to their inability or unwillingness to control their gambling habits. And it is incumbent upon the industry to make resources available for those people who struggle with gambling addiction and implement safeguards that will detect a problem before it becomes serious.
The mission statement for the NCLGS was to address these issues via a multi-pronged approach which includes public awareness, education, intervention, establishing protocols to assist with problem gamblers, and support funding for research and outreach programs.
Union of Legislators to Provide Guidance
NCLGS President Sen. Jon Ford of Indiana said, “Gaming in the United States is authorized and regulated at the state level, but states need guidance as gaming grows. This two-year effort by legislators is the first to leverage what we have learned for the benefit of our members as they grapple with this critical need.”
NCLGS President-Elect Shawn Fluharty, Delegate of West Virginia, noted: “The extraordinary, ongoing expansion of gaming into new forms across multiple states demands that lawmakers take necessary steps to protect their most vulnerable citizens. This resolution will help them meet that critical goal.”
The newly adopted resolution considered input from more than 50 legislators, regulators, industry professionals, clinicians, and community-based practitioners.
NCLGS Vice President Rep. Christie Carpino of Connecticut noted, “Addressing problem gambling is at the top of the agenda for all of us at NCLGS. We urge all states that offer gaming to consider the guidance offered in this historic resolution.”
Resolution Details
According to the press release issued by the National Council of Legislators from the Gaming States, the resolution includes the following suggestions:
- One accredited national problem gambling helpline number within all jurisdictions;
- State or jurisdictional advertising guidelines to ensure that marketing is targeted only to those who are of legal age to gamble, that marketing follows standards not to offer content, themes, and promotions that have special appeal to those consumers most at risk for gambling problems, and to ensure there are programs that audit and monitor the content of third-party marketing affiliates;
- Policies and programs that enable customers to discontinue their play temporarily or permanently through exclusion programs from gaming activities statewide and across multiple jurisdictions with multiple term lengths;
- Coordination of gambling exclusion lists to prevent people with gambling problems and others on exclusion lists from problematic play in other states.
The following NCLGS resolution will stand for two years and is intended as a touchstone for all gambling states to adopt at least part, if not all, of the suggestions therein.
Calculators
