Responsible Gambling

Four Recommendations From The National Commission on Computer Crime

Responsible gambling is an organization of organizations and individuals dedicated to change in the way we interact with online gambling. Responsible gambling is a group of interrelated ideas, including governmental policy, industry standards, and the culture surrounding the industry.

Gamblers that do not choose to take part in responsible gambling services may expose themselves to criminal acts and consequences. For example, in some jurisdictions, the use of the proceeds from a slot machine can be used to finance organized crime. In fact, in some jurisdictions, gambling services may be illegal without specific written legislation covering both wagering and the transfer of monies from one player’s bank account to another. Such written legislation requires licensed gaming operators to maintain appropriate financial records that enable state auditors to identify and seize any proceeds for tax purposes.

The second set of recommended changes the national council recommends is to improve education efforts that target the problem gambling issues that encourage operators to act in a way that is inconsistent with the way that states regulated their businesses. The NCCI recommends that gambling operators be required to participate in educational activities that include anti-gambling seminars and webinars that address these issues. Such seminars and webinars should include information that describes the nature of responsible gambling and the risks that consumers may face by participating in such activities. The seminars should also include additional information about the ways that consumers can avoid becoming victims of crime, including the types of scams that may be perpetrated on them. Finally, the seminars should provide consumers with additional information about how to avoid situations in which they may be subject to illegal conduct by gambling establishments.

The third recommendation, the national council makes is to consider a self-exclusion program for problem gamblers. The self-exclusion program is based on the concept that many people who have a problem gambling habit do not recognize the harm that their actions are causing. Therefore, for people who are aware of the connection between gambling addiction and the reality of suffering as a result of such activity, the idea of self-exclusion may prove to be an effective way for problem gamblers to break free from the addiction. The self-exclusion program would require that Problem gamblers surrender all of their electronic gaming devices, including online and account privileges, to the gaming establishment in which they gamble. Individuals may also be required to participate in counseling sessions that focus on the changing habits that lead to compulsive gaming.

The fourth recommendation that the NCCI makes is that gambling operators must develop and implement plans for educating players about their particular risk factors for becoming addicted to gambling. The operators must be provided with specific information that identifies such risks and how players can reduce their exposure to them. The operators must also provide their clients with resources that can be used to help them recognize certain red flags that may signal the presence of gambling addiction and should inform clients about any additional risks that may be associated with playing online or with gaming in general. By following the recommendations set forth in the NCCI’s Gamblers Awareness Program, many problem gamblers can ensure that they are acting responsibly at all times.