Responsible Gaming

When the Interactive Gaming Task Force Convened in September of 2001, the very broad mission was to examine issues that are related to AB 466. Early on, among of the major issues that surfaced were those relating to problem gambling and how the issues might differ in this interactive environment. To take a closer look at this issue, the Interactive Gaming Task Force (IGTF) put together a workshop on Problem Gambling & Responsible Gaming held on January 25, 2002. Participants in the workshop included individuals that work with problem gamblers such as sociologists, psychologists, as well as industry people, educators and others interested in this issue.

In the workshop it was found that this group of informed and competent people had many thoughts and ideas relating to the topic. In fact too many to thoughtfully discuss in one session. Therefore a subcommittee was convened with the intention of forming a consensus around which a recommendation could be made to the Nevada Gaming Commission concerning responsible gaming in the interactive environment.

This subcommittee consisted of the following members:
Ron Asher - Asher & Associates
Dr. Pearl Brewer - College of Hotel Administration - UNLV (IGTF co-chair)
Bill Geoghegan - CEO - Lodging & Gaming Technoloy Consulting, Inc. (IGTF co-chair)
Morry Goldstein - Executive Vice President - Global Cash Access
Rob Hunter, Ph.D. - Founder/Clinical Director - Problem Gambling Consulting, Inc.
Robin Roberts - Regional Sales Director - Gamet, Inc. (IGTF)

In attendance as observer:
Toni Cowan - Deputy Attorney General - Gaming Division

Ad hoc participants:
Carol O'Hare - Executive Director - Nevada Council on Problem Gambling
Dr. Bo Bernhard - Department of Sociology - UNLV
Shannon Bybee - International Gaming Institute at UNLV

This subcommittee met on numerous occasions, with discussions centered on reaching a consensus for a mechanism that can be recommended in the implementation of interactive gaming, particularly Internet based gaming.

The accompanying document represents the results of this work. It is important to note, however, that the subcommittee wanted to add the following comments:

We recognize that there are significant differences in Interactive/Remote Gaming from the brick and mortar environment. The interactive environment probably decreases an individual's barriers to gambling, and might allow individuals otherwise indisposed to excessive gambling access that is not currently available. The removal of barriers such as having to get dressed, leave the home or workplace, find care for children or the risk of being seen are significantly increased in the on-line environment. There is no question that a person seeking escape can do so without fear of interruption or recognition by remaining at home in front of their computer.

On the other hand, the technology that must be incorporated into any interactive environment can assist a player in gambling responsibly. The fact that there must be a positive identification of all players through a sign-up, log-in and authentification sequence allows an individual to monitor his own limits in a way that cannot be implemented in today's brick and mortar casinos. The fact that an individual's statistics on play, win, loss etc. are easily kept, and the fact that research data can be collected from 100 percent of the players are all positive aspects of the on-line gaming environment.

These recommendations are designed only for the Interactive environment. It should not be assumed that there is any logical transference of any of these recommendations to the brick & mortar environment, as the technology to implement these recommended mechanisms does not exist outside of the on-line world.

Usage of the proposed Responsible Gaming Database must be limited to purpose intended, the database must be highly secured, and the privacy of all individuals must be maintained. Any external use of information should be limited to scientific research into the area of problem gambling, but even that must ensure the maintenance of anonymity.

The IGTF subcommittee on Problem Gambling presents this document as a unified result of their work.

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