Responsible Gaming is Here to Stay

Gambling has been around for approximately 8,000 years, give or take a millennium. It's safe to say that gambling is here to stay.

And Internet Gambling?

According to an article by IGN's Mark Balestra in a recent issue of IGWB, "It's been a good three years since we began hearing 'Internet gambling is here to stay.' Suffice to say, it appears we've finally established that Net betting isn't going away."

Responsible Gaming - Establishing Strong Roots

The evolution of the gaming industry's willingness to attend to issues related to problem gambling and underage gambling gathered steam in the 1990s, partly due to the desire to avoid the debacle in which the tobacco industry found itself emerged. When the world was introduced to Joe Camel, the news media and consumer groups concluded that the friendly-looking, cartoon-ish and omnipresent symbol of one of America's cigarette manufacturers was being used by the tobacco industry to lure underage smokers. The industry's maladroit response fueled more complaints which became the opening volleys in what evolved into an economic and public relations nightmare for the tobacco industry.

At approximately the same time, the liquor industry was responding in more cooperative ways to concerns about abuse or consumption by minors of its products. Advertising campaigns and a variety of other liquor industry modifications helped to alert the gaming industry to the benefits of a proactive approach to problem and underage gambling.

Responsible Gaming - Picking Up Speed

Most notable in the responsible gambling movement was the formation in 1990 of the underage gambling awareness program, Project 21, by Harrah's under the progressive leadership of CEO Phil Satre.

In 1996, the National Center for Responsible Gaming was formed for the purpose of funding scientific research on pathological gambling. Funded with $1.8 million in startup money by Boyd Gaming and Station Casinos, this progressive response has advanced the concept and philosophy of responsible gaming.

Soon after, the ever-progressive American Gaming Association licensed NATI's responsible gaming kit, "Red Flags and Referrals: Responsible Gaming Training for Casino Employees," for use by its members. It also implemented Responsible Gaming Awareness Week, which is this week.

Interactive Gaming Jumps Onboard

As a result of leadership from proactive associations, addressing underage gambling and problem gambling has been a highly recommended operating procedure for interactive gaming operators and vendors. For example, the Budd Report made 176 recommendations for changes to the United Kingdom's gaming laws and included specific recommendations related to responsible gambling.

Some of the Budd Report recommendations are as follows:

Future licensing procedure should include requirements on operators to train employees to spot and help problem gamblers;
consideration should be given to a requirement for displaying posters advertising help for problem gamblers;
use of technology by operators to prevent minors from gambling such as age verification software; and
increased funding for treatment and research of problem gamblers.

Online Gambling's Call to Action

Ladies and gentlemen of the online gaming industry, there is no doubt that responsible gaming will be included in most, if not all, future regulations. There is now a window of opportunity to design and implement a program--doing it your way. For 2003, the interactive gaming industry should strongly consider focusing on two important action steps:

Design a plan and participate in an online "Responsible Gaming Awareness Week" that would include:
- promoting awareness of problem gambling and resources to assist those who may have a problem;
- alerting parents and other adults that gambling is adult recreation and the importance of keeping their children from online gaming sites;
- awarding prizes for the best ideas for promoting responsible gaming; and
- publicizing your commitment to being good corporate citizens.
Place a link to responsible gaming services on each gaming home page for those who may have a gambling problem or seeking information to helpful and professional resources.

The online gambling industry is undergoing a mammoth maturing process. A quick look back at the tobacco industry, the liquor industry and land-based gaming will likely provide the impetus and incentive for advancing responsible gaming.