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New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin has launched a public awareness campaign to mitigate the negative impacts of problem gambling and to encourage a deeper commitment to responsible gaming during Problem Gambling Awareness Month.
This recently launched campaign advocates for the provision of more funding for programs that encourage responsible gambling habits while simultaneously increasing awareness of the dangers of compulsive gambling.
Platkin emphasized in a news release the importance of addressing problem gambling, particularly with the rise of legal sports betting.
“As we learn more and more about the effects of problem gambling, especially following the legalization of sports wagering, we have an obligation to provide resources and support to the public on responsible gaming.
This work starts with ensuring awareness of the many tools available to assist individuals who struggle with gambling, including comprehensive prevention strategies and treatment and recovery services. Our campaign will highlight the responsible gaming measures put in place within our office and available through our partners and stakeholders to assist those in need of help.”
He added that legal gambling was brought into the mainstream and generally poses no health concerns for most individuals. “Legalization has moved gambling out of the shadows, and for most people, legalized gaming does not create a health issue,” Platkin said. “However, it is incumbent upon us to provide stronger solutions for those who do struggle with gambling, whether that means through comprehensive prevention and support strategies, such as our responsible gaming initiatives, or stronger treatment and recovery services for problem gamblers.”
NJ online casinos are one of the biggest revenue generators for gambling in the US. Recent data from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) reports that February 2024 earnings for online casinos came to $182.3 million, an increase of 12% year-over-year.
What to expect from NJ’s responsible gambling campaign
The campaign, which coincides with events like March Madness and extends until Super Bowl LIX in 2025, will predominantly utilize online advertisements.
- Marketsmith, a marketing agency located in Whippany, N.J., is spearheading the $300,000 campaign, and the Office of the Attorney General and the DGE will provide input, guidance, and oversight.
- Media placements will air strategically around major sporting events such as the NBA Playoffs, Stanley Cup Finals, Summer Olympics, MLB postseason, and Triple Crown races (Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes).
- Messages in the campaign will emphasize responsible betting, especially during in-game betting situations where impaired judgment from alcohol consumption or emotional reactions to the ongoing game may occur.
- The campaign will promote the utilization of responsible gaming limits and controls provided by online operators, as mandated by regulations.
- Messages from the campaign will advise the public to “vet before they bet” by consulting the list of licensed operators on the DGE’s website.
- The campaign aims to instigate behavior change by promoting actions such as calling the DGE’s self-exclusion toll-free hotline: 1-833-788-4DGE. More details about self-exclusion can be accessed on the DGE’s self-exclusion page.
Furthermore, Mary Jo Flaherty, interim director of DGE, emphasized the importance of individuals utilizing responsible gambling tools, such as increased self-awareness, and abstaining from certain games for extended periods.
“The Division of Gaming Enforcement enhanced and improved our responsible gaming resources in 2023, and we are excited for the increased awareness that this initiative will bring to the public,” said Flaherty.
“We are eager to share more information about how individuals can empower themselves with responsible gaming tools, whether that means becoming more self-aware of their behavior, taking more breaks from gaming, or deciding to stay away from a game for a longer period.”
