The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) has released its 2022 report. The report assesses consumer protection regulations of states with legal online gambling against its Internet Responsible Gambling Standards (IRGS).
The report is titled US Online Responsible Gaming Regulations: An Evaluation Against National Council on Problem Gambling Standards. It finds that regulations in four of the seven states where online gambling is legal fall drastically short of NCPG’s minimum responsible gambling standards.
Most US states with online gambling regulations don’t meet IRGS standards
Online gaming regulations in four states do not mandate operators to give players sufficient responsible gambling protections. Those four states are:
- Delaware
- Michigan
- Nevada
- West Virginia
Regulations from Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania met most of the IRGS’ standards but didn’t meet all targets.
IRGS’ purpose is to set measures for consumers to ensure they can be confident with the platform of their choice. IRGS ensures online casino operators meet these standards and have the responsible gambling tools necessary to assist in playing safely.
NCPG aims to help enable discussions among stakeholders
The NCPG initially developed the IRGS in 2012. The organization’s main goal was to help facilitate discussions – among all stakeholders – on internet gambling, including:
- Operators
- Advocates
- Regulators
- The public
The IRGS receives regular updates to reflect the current state of online betting. As well as information on recent trends in consumer protection and technology. The standards contain specific recommendations in the areas of:
- Policy
- Staff training
- Informed decision-making
- Assisting players
- Self-exclusion
- Advertising promotion
- Game and site features
- Working with research
NCPG experts say the most ethical and cost-effective response to gambling addiction is a comprehensive public health strategy. Apart from prevention, the strategy should also include education, treatment and research services.
Responsible gambling standards are a crucial aspect of this approach. NCPG recommends all states looking to legalize online gambling abide by the IRGS standards to protect users from the harmful effects of gambling.
