SEARCH NEWS:

 

Casino Self-Exclusion Faces Criticism

"The rules that would govern the state's plan to allow gamblers to ban themselves from New Jersey casinos drew objections and suggestions Thursday from casinos and the head of the Council on Compulsive Gambling, sending regulators back to the drawing board.

"…The self-exclusion plan would allow compulsive gamblers who don't trust themselves to stay away from casinos to register with the state, providing personal information and a photograph so that casinos could deny them admission or eject them.

"Those who did gamble and were caught would forfeit any winnings. In addition, casinos would have to stop sending promotional materials, giving complimentary gifts or extending credit to those who register.

"The basic outline of the plan was approved by the Legislature and signed into law by acting Gov. Donald T. DiFrancesco.

"But it is up to the state Casino Control Commission, the agency that must administer the list, to approve the rules governing how it is enforced.

"…The proposed rules say the names of self-excluded gamblers would be given to casinos but not released publicly, and that casinos would have to keep them confidential.

"But lawyers representing Tropicana Casino and Resort and Harrah's Entertainment both said the information should be shared. For example, if an excluded gambler attempts to get into one casino, officials there could call the casino next door to warn it that the person might be coming in, said Nicholas Moles, the Tropicana attorney.

"How long should a gambler be excluded? The proposed rule says anyone registering would be banned from casinos for one year and could be removed from the list after that.

"Luther Anderson, a Harrah's attorney, said his company already maintains a self-exclusion list but that once a person signs up for it, the person is banned for life from Harrah's casinos.

"…How many people will sign up for the list and how will the casinos keep track of them?

"…Should people who register be banned just from placing bets or be banned from entering the casino hotels' premises? [Nicholas Moles, the Tropicana attorney] suggested a total ban, but a recovering gambler who works in a casino said that would make it impossible for casino employees who have gambling problems to sign up…"

< Gaming News