New York’s responsible gaming coalition announces new measures
Empire State’s Gaming Commission, Office of Addiction Services and Supports, and Council on Problem Gambling unveil new collaboration to provide holistic support to at-risk individuals
New York’s Responsible Play Partnership (RPP) has introduced new responsible gambling measures for players in the Empire State that participating groups have said will help “prevent problem gambling.”
The coalition is comprised of the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC), the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS), and the New York Council on Problem Gambling (NYCPG).
One of the group’s new initiatives concerns any player who is part of the state’s voluntary self-exclusion program.
From November 12, players who have chosen to self-exclude can opt in to receive free and confidential calls from a trained gambling harms staff member of the OASAS HOPEline.
Furthermore, the NYCPG has developed a new training program designed to better educate staff who work in New York’s gaming industry.
The initiative will help staff identify the symptoms, evidence, and warning signs of gambling-related harm, in addition to how they should interact with individuals in need of help.
Another part of the RPP’s measures is for sports betting operators in the state to report more specific data to the NYSGC each year.
This data includes total amount wagered and number of bets placed, total amount and number of bets won, total amount wagered on each sport, total number of accounts, (including new accounts created and average account balances), the total number of accounts permanently closed, and the number of self-exclusions.
For each account, the regulator wants operators to provide the player’s zip code, total amount wagered, number of bets placed, and money won or lost.
Operators will also have to disclose the player’s time spent on the given platform, number of times they access the responsible play webpage, number of times they reach the statutory deposit betting-pause threshold, and what action the player took.
Data required as part of the scheme also includes what day of the week and hour of day the most wagers are placed and most money is wagered.
The commission will also ask operators to provide account holders’ gender, race and ethnicity if these details have been voluntarily provided.
NYSGC executive director Robert Williams said: “The RPP was formed to bridge the gaps between all stakeholders to address problem gambling.
“These latest spans bring timely help to those who need it, ensure that industry employees know how to address the issue, and ensure that we are obtaining meaningful data to properly scope mobile sports wagering’s reach.”
NYCPG executive director Jim Maney added: “Casino industry staff are the front line when it comes to problem gambling and ensuring they are well trained to identify those who are struggling and offer the proper assistance is key.
“After several months of collaborative development with OASAS and the Gaming Commission, we are proud to release this comprehensive, online and on-demand training to all casino staff in New York State.”