As the national advocate for programs and services designed to help individuals, families, and communities that have been impacted by problem gambling, the National Council on Problem Gambling has been playing a vital role in curbing problem gambling and related issues in the country.
Over the years, the National Council on Problem Gambling has helped to generate awareness about disordered and problem gambling while advocating for support services and treatment for people that have been impacted by problem betting. Having recognized the prevalence of problem gambling in our modern society, the National Council on Problem Gambling worked together to come up with standards to help guide the discussion among operators, regulators, advocates, and the public.
These standards are today referred to as the Internet Responsible Gambling Standards, often abbreviated as IRGS. The standards contain particular recommendations that are embedded in staff training, policy, decision-making, and all forms of marketing and promotions such as TV and online ads, website features, and more.
To come up with gambling standards, the National Council on Problem Gambling assessed codes and gambling regulations from all over the world. Each year, the NCPG updates its IRGS to cover policies across 9 main areas namely:
- Supporting gamblers in the country to make informed decisions
- Creating responsible betting policies
- Training of casino and iGaming staff
- Assisting individuals and their families
- Implementing self-exclusion policies
- Standardizing marketing and promotion messages
- Research in the gambling industry
- Online and offline payments
- Gaming, app, and website features.
Each year, the National Council of Problem Gambling shares its consumer protection report. This report is typically based on the Council’s internet responsible gambling standards and it seeks to assess the iGaming regulations in the country.
The 2022 consumer report found that 4 of the 7 seven states that have permitted legal online casino gaming failed to comply with the council’s minimum standards designed to ensure responsible betting. The 4 states in question included West Virginia, Delaware, Nevada, and Michigan.
According to the 2022 consumer report, these states failed to provide gamblers with sufficient responsible gambling protections as required by the council. The same report found that states such as Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and New Jersey were the only ones to have met most of the Internet Responsible Gaming Standards.
The National Council on Problem Gambling updates the standards each year to make certain that they reflect the current market conditions for online betting operations. The National Council, which is headquartered in Washington DC has always maintained that emphasis should be placed on the research, education, treatment, and prevention of gambling-related problems.
The 2022 report on problem gambling also noted that youth were more exposed to gambling and were therefore more likely to engage in gambling habits before they were ready. As youth betting emerges as a considerable public health issue, the NCPG has pledged to engage in continued research to see that youth are protected.
Based on the regulations, which vary from state to state, online casino regulators are also required to supply different responsible gambling tools to their customers. These tools must be reviewed regularly and evaluated by stakeholders to make sure that punters are being adequately and fairly served.
The most straightforward explanation for the surge in problem gambling over the last few years is the change in the law. Since 2018, 36 states have legalized their sports betting markets and at least 3 more are expected to legalize sports betting before the end of 2023.
Legalized gambling has been paying off for almost all the states that permit it. Case in point, in just the first 10 months of 2022, punters in the country placed legal bets worth $73 million. This was an increase of more than 70% based on reports from the American Gaming Association.
In 2022, sports betting operators generated revenue of $5.77 billion from the bets, which was a boost of close to 80%. As a result of the continued growth, states, as well as various federal governments in the country managed to generate approximately $1.3 billion. New York, which only debuted its mobile sports wagering market in January 2022 has now emerged as the number 1 revenue generator with $1.07 billion generated between January 2022 and October 2022.
Illinois now stands as the second-highest revenue generator in the country followed by New Jersey in third place. Based on reports from the American Gaming Association, the combined gaming revenue, which consists of sports betting, table games, and slots, across tribal and commercial casinos for 2022 surpassed $100 billion.
As the legalization of sports betting continues to spread all over the country, the regulations, research, and recommendations from the National Council on Problem Gambling have never been more important. Thankfully, most of the industry continues to make efforts to promote responsible gaming while also addressing the scourge that is problem gambling.
The majority of the biggest gaming operators and suppliers have voluntarily implemented responsible gaming programs with measures that expand upon what is directed by law or by the National Council on Problem Gambling. Since the Responsible Gaming Statutes and Regulations Guide was last updated, at least 18 states have taken up legislation designed to improve responsible gaming.
Final Thoughts
The US boasts one of the most rigorous gambling regulatory environments for online betting in the world. Regulators in the country have worked hard to impose comprehensive conditions on almost all aspects of modern gambling design, as well as operation with the intention of keeping punters and their families safe from harm.
Gambling is intended to be entertaining and is often a legitimate recreational activity for many adults in the US. In many cases, gamblers can enjoy responsibly and the National Council on Problem Gambling remains committed to minimizing harm, as well as creating a much safer gambling environment.
