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Officials Spotlight Efforts Against Problem Gambling

LAS VEGAS -- The casino industry has stepped up its campaign against problem gambling with more than $13 million in contributions to a national research center and one program that slams the door on gamblers who show serious symptoms of addiction.

In June, Caesars Entertainment started the industry's first involuntary exclusion program, which bans certain problem gamblers from all of the company's U.S. casinos.

Since June 1, Caesars Entertainment President Wally Barr said, 50 problem gamblers have been involuntarily excluded for life from Caesars casinos, many of whom later enrolled in treatment programs and called the company to express thanks for the aggressive program.

The Caesars Entertainment program requires training casino workers to identify customers showing certain behavior patterns, including those at risk of committing suicide, endangering others or facing severe financial losses, including the loss of their home.

Industry critic Tom Grey, executive director of the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling, said the Caesars Entertainment program is a harbinger of things to come as criticism mounts over the addictive nature of the industry's product.

"It's the tip of the iceberg, but it's a beginning," Grey said. "I'm encouraged to hear (about the 50 excluded players). That shows a seriousness that's been lacking."

Most gaming companies and seven states have voluntary exclusion programs that let problem gamblers register with casinos to be barred from the property, but Caesars is the only company to involuntarily bar its own customers when they show serious signs of addiction.

Barr said the involuntary exclusion program is working well, but it has been the focus of debate, with competing companies thinking it goes too far.

Barr said gaming companies have a responsibility to deal seriously with customers who manifest bad problems.

"If you're going to do it, you have to do it right," he said.

Caesars Entertainment, previously known as Park Place Entertainment Corp., was the first gaming company to contribute more than $1 million to the National Center for Responsible Gaming.

The center was founded in 1996 at Harvard University, with the support of the American Gaming Association, as the first national organization devoted to funding independent, peer-reviewed scientific research on pathological and youth gambling.

Barr said that the industry for years has taken problem gambling seriously and that the association has been in the forefront of both education and research programs to focus attention on addiction issues.

Other companies that have contributed $1 million or more include MGM Mirage, Harrah's Entertainment, Mandalay Resort Group, International Game Technology and Boyd Gaming Corp., association Senior Vice President Judy Patterson said.

"Gaming companies have responsible gaming practices 365 days a year, but seven years ago, the AGA decided to highlight responsible gaming one week a year," Patterson said.

"The focus this year is on the code of conduct approved last September for implementation this September. There is no question member companies are taking that very seriously," she said.

In December, the association announced a first-ever industrywide code of conduct for responsible gaming that will commit members to a broad set of problem-gambling policies.

The deadline for adopting the association code is Sept. 15, and casino operators and equipment manufacturers are promoting it among their workers and customers as part of the seventh annual Responsible Gaming Education Week, which opened Monday and continues through Friday.

Despite his praise for Caesars Entertainment's involuntary exclusion program, Grey was critical of the annual week, designed to draw attention to problem gaming.

"It's a yearly charade. The industry parades out its education programs, but we've seen no curtailment of markers or lines of credit that might actually make a difference in individual lives," he said.

"They've got to pay lip service to concerns about the losers because it's an addictive product. But the bottom line is their losers are their profit-generators. So minimizing the pain would mean losing money," Grey said.

He said Caesars has become an exception and has addressed the issues seriously.

Boyd spokesman Rob Stillwell said Responsible Gaming Week has evolved and has helped make programs to combat problem gaming a part of everyday life for casino management.

"There was a time when Harrah's stood out (as pretty much a lone voice on the issues), but now the industry as a whole has a lot more going on," he said.

Harrah's officials failed to return phone calls on Tuesday.

Stillwell said much of the industry progress should be attributed to Responsible Gaming Education Week and the National Center for Responsible Gaming, to which Boyd has contributed more than $1 million and which Boyd Chairman Bill Boyd serves as president.

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