State Roundup on Responsible Gaming
Indiana
Indiana recently considered a self-exclusion proposal, HB 1197. The bill would add to the Indiana gaming code a voluntary self-exclusion program for problem gamblers. The program, if enacted, would be similar to self-exclusion programs in Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Louisiana and New Jersey. Those in the program would be on a confidential list disseminated to casino owners and would be banned from any of the state's 10 riverboat casinos. This would change the current system in which problem gamblers must request self-exclusion from individual gaming establishments. The new program would also prohibit casino owners from direct marketing to those on the self-exclusion list or from cashing checks or providing credit to those individuals. HB 1197 passed in the House but died in Senate committee; however, the bill's language may be inserted into future bills in committee.
Michigan
The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) this spring appointed Sandra Johnson as the new coordinator of its Disassociated Persons List, Michigan's self-exclusion program. A graduate of Michigan State University, Johnson worked for Wayne County Community College as a research analyst. She also held a position in the office of the general counsel at Ford Motor Company. Prior to overseeing the Disassociated Persons List, she worked at the MGCB in the administration division providing support to the MGCB gaming lab, employee licensing and audit sections. She also supervised the Detroit records section there.
Nevada
In May, the Nevada legislature passed a bill requiring certification for counselors working with problem gamblers. The bill expands the state board of examiners for alcohol and drug abuse counselors to include certification for gambling counselors and creates certification requirements for the counselors. The requirements include 60 hours of problem gambling training and a minimum of 2,000 hours of supervised counseling of problem gambers. Certification lasts for two years and can be renewed.
Another problem gambling proposal considered in the state Senate did not move out of committee. The bill would have provided $250,000 in state grants to organizations that provide problem gambling treatment for nonviolent crime offenders. Under the bill, pathological gamblers could have been sentenced to treatment programs instead of jail time. A similar bill was considered in 2001.
