Responsible Gaming
Update
NCLGS Responsible Gaming Committee
June 6, 2014
Keith Whyte, Executive Director
About NCPG
• The national advocate for programs and
services to assist problem gamblers and
their families.
• NEUTRAL on legalized gambling.
• Founded in 1972.
• Chapters in 37 of 50 states.
• Work with government, gaming industry,
regulators, legislators, media & community.
RG Opportunities Online
• Internet Responsible Gambling April 2012.
• GRADE Social Gaming Consumer Protection
March 2013.
• Review of DE, NJ & NV Internet Responsible
Gambling Regulations February 2014.
www.ncpgambling.org/irgstandards
IRG Standards
o
o
o
o
Policy
Training
Informed Decision
Making
Assisting Players
o
o
o
o
Self Exclusion
Advertising
Game & Site
Features
Research
POLICY
• Policy commitment to responsible gambling
• The operator has a responsible gambling
strategy with defined goals and a clear plan of
action.
• A portion of all gambling revenue must be
dedicated to reduce the social costs of
gambling addiction.
STAFF TRAINING
• All staff who have contact with players,
including customer service agents, as well as
administrative and corporate staff members,
are trained in responsible gambling at their
hiring and are retrained regularly.
*Training is tested or reviewed annually with
staff and evaluated by a 3rd party.
INFORMED DECISION MAKING
• The site provides a variety of information to assist players.
• Players are encouraged to set weekly or monthly deposit,
loss or time limits.
• Players have the option of setting daily, weekly or monthly
limits on deposits.
• Players have the option of setting a system-wide loss or time
limit.
• Players have the option of setting individual loss or time limits
of for each type of game offered by the site.
• Players may lower a limit at any time from their account or
with a customer service agent. This will take effect immediately.
Players may request increases in or removal of their limits.
After a delay of 24 hours, the player must reconfirm their
request for the limit to be changed.
ASSISTING PLAYERS
• Clear policies are in place for assessing and
handling situations where a player indicates they
are in distress or experiencing problems. There
is a procedure in place to address third party
concerns.
• Customer service agents are knowledgeable
about the helpline, self-exclusion/timeout,
responsible gambling and local help resources and
able to provide that information on request.
SELF-EXCLUSION
ADVERTISING AND
PROMOTION
The operator has a clearly articulated commitment to
advertising that does not mislead or target people with
gambling problems or minors. Advertising and promotions are
not on any online pages that are geared towards responsible
gambling. Advertising is not misleading about outcomes of
gambling and does not misrepresent the odds of
winning/losing.
GAME AND SITE FEATURES
• All potential new games and site technology are reviewed
for possible impacts on problem gambling utilizing a risk
assessment protocol.
• Free or demonstration games have the same payout
percentages and odds as paying games. Free games should
not permit play by underage players. Free and
demonstration sites should provide information about
responsible gambling.
• The site does not induce players to continue gambling
when play is in session, when the player attempts to end a
session, or wins or loses a bet.
• Sites have an obligation to prevent access by those who are
underage.
RESEARCH
• Transparency: Play data from regulated
internet gambling sites should be publicly
available through the regulatory agency to
qualified researchers. Data must be deidentified to remove personally identifying
information, consistent with Federal and state
privacy, intellectual property and freedom of
information laws.
Current Internet RG Regs
Policy
Training
Informed Decision
Making
Assisting Players
Self Exclusion
Advertising
Game & Site Features
Research
TOTAL
DE
1/2
NV
1/2
NJ
1/2
1/1
3/8
1/1
6/8
1/1
5/8
0/3
5/7
1/1
6/7
1/3
4/7
1/1
5/7
0/3
5/7
1/1
7/7
0/1
17/30
0/1
19/30
1/1
20/30
NCPG
730 11th Street, NW, Suite 601
Washington, DC 20001
Tel: +1.202.547.9204
Fax: +1.202.547.9206
[email protected]
www.ncpgambling.org