Responsible Gaming Update

NCLGS Responsible Gaming Committee

June 6, 2014Keith Whyte, Executive Director

About NCPGThe 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 Policyo Trainingo Informed

Decision Making

o Assisting Players

o Self Exclusiono Advertisingo Game & Site

Featureso 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 de-identified to remove personally identifying information, consistent with Federal and state privacy, intellectual property and freedom of information laws.

DE NV NJ

Policy 1/2 1/2 1/2

Training 1/1 1/1 1/1

Informed Decision Making

3/8 6/8 5/8

Assisting Players 0/3 1/3 0/3

Self Exclusion 5/7 4/7 5/7

Advertising 1/1 1/1 1/1

Game & Site Features

6/7 5/7 7/7

Research 0/1 0/1 1/1

TOTAL 17/30 19/30 20/30

Current Internet RG Regs

NCPG

730 11th Street, NW, Suite 601

Washington, DC 20001Tel: +1.202.547.9204Fax: +1.202.547.9206

keithw@ncpgambling.orgwww.ncpgambling.org