Posted on: June 19, 2024, 02:42h.
Last updated on: June 19, 2024, 02:42h.
The nine casinos in Atlantic City are embracing New Jersey’s establishment of the first-ever Responsible Gaming Task Force, an initiative spearheaded by Gov. Phil Murphy (D).
Murphy last week signed Executive Order No. 360 to establish the Responsible Gaming Task Force (RGTF). The seven-person Task Force will provide advice and recommendations to the governor’s office and state attorney general about reforms to support responsible participation in New Jersey’s vast gaming industry.
The Casino Association of New Jersey (CANJ), which lobbies Trenton lawmakers on behalf of the nine casinos down the shore, welcomed the formation of the Task Force.
The Atlantic City casino industry applauds New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy for his leadership in addressing the issue of problem gambling in New Jersey through the formation of the Responsible Gaming Task Force. We are ready to work in partnership with the Murphy Administration to promote the well-being of our customers and the broader community in this effort,” a CANJ statement provided to Casino.org read.
The RGTF will be chaired by Attorney General Matt Platkin (D). Other designated members include Casino Control Commission Chair James Plousis and Division of Gaming Enforcement Interim Director Mary Jo Flaherty.
Solutions Sought
A 2023 report from Rutgers University’s Center for Gambling Studies concluded that problem gaming rates are escalating in the Garden State. New Jersey is the second-richest gaming state behind Nevada.
New Jersey is home to casinos in Atlantic City, as well as retail and online sports betting, iGaming, and parimutuel wagering.
New Jersey gaming revenue last year totaled upwards of $5.77 billion, an all-time high. State taxes in 2023 totaled more than $595.5 million. The state gaming industry, the American Gaming Association estimates, has an annual economic impact of nearly $12 billion and supports nearly 52,000 jobs.
Murphy and state officials want to keep the gaming industry strong, as do the casinos, of course. And a pillar of a healthy gaming market is responsible play.
“New Jersey is known to be a gaming destination with historic locations like Atlantic City, amusement gaming at the Jersey Shore, notable horse racing venues, and more,” said Murphy. “This Task Force will see to it that we maintain our global leadership in gaming by ensuring that we have the tools needed to address problem gaming for our residents.”
Concerning Data
The Rutgers study estimated that 6% of New Jersey adult residents are at high risk for problem gambling, significantly higher than the national average projected to be around 1-2%.
Black and Hispanic residents in New Jersey are at the highest risk of gambling more than they can afford to lose or had planned to gamble before their first bet. The report found that upwards of 15% of those ethnic groups are “high-risk problem gamblers.”
Individuals with the lowest household incomes — defined as less than $15,000 a year — are most likely to be high-risk problem gamblers, the report found.
The results highlight the need for thoughtful consideration of the impacts of continued gambling expansion and the potential need to regulate or otherwise limit high-risk activities or advertising that targets particular groups or provides misleading promises,” the Rutgers executive summary read.
Researchers opined that New Jersey’s numerous regulatory agencies that monitor gaming activities complicate a statewide effort to improve responsible play.
“Those agencies have separate policies governing responsible gaming, including varying terms for self-exclusion and requirements for sign up (e.g., online versus in-person). Going forward, establishing best practices will necessitate the development of uniform regulations around RG initiatives and practices, including online access to self-exclusion sign-up and limit-setting features, in a way that is the least stigmatizing for individual consumers,” the report concluded.
