Responsible Gaming: 2001 Legislative/Regulatory Update
In each issue of RGQ, we will be providing readers with an update on legislative and regulatory activity relating to responsible gaming. The following is an overview of this year's developments:
Illinois
The Illinois Department of Health and Human Services successfully lobbied the state legislature for a $2 million appropriation to go toward problem gambling treatment and counseling. Regulators also are in the process of establishing a self-exclusion program modeled after Missouri's program. Initial rollout is slated for sometime around January 2002.
Louisiana
The legislature approved a bill to refine the way in which the state addresses problem gambling. The bill calls for the Louisiana Gaming Control Board to establish a uniform problem gambling program. It also calls for operators to develop and submit comprehensive programs to identify self-excluded persons and prevent them from receiving promotions, provide assessment and treatment referral for all gaming employees, address underage gambling and unattended minors, provide employee training to help recognize problem gamblers, serve alcohol responsibly, and promote public awareness of problem gambling through posters and other informational materials. In addition, the legislation prevents any self-excluded person from having access to credit, check-cashing services or other players' club benefits. The Gaming Control Board has yet to establish the necessary administrative rules to implement this law.
Michigan
Senate Bill 911, which was signed into law in January, amended the Horse Racing Law to reduce the percentage of the Michigan Agriculture Equine Industry Development Fund deposited into the Compulsive Gaming Prevention Fund. Under this law, the amount contributed will be reduced from 1/10 of 1 percent to 1/100 of 1 percent of the gross wagers made each year in each of the licensed racetracks.
New Jersey
In accordance with regulation N.J.A.C. 19:48-2, New Jersey established a self-exclusion program in 2001. This program allows people with a gambling problem to voluntarily exclude themselves from Atlantic City casinos for one year, five years or for life. Individuals who are caught gambling cannot collect winnings or recover any losses and are unable to receive credit or check cashing privileges.
