When states look at potentially legalizing online gambling of any kind, the threat of problem gambling is always one of the biggest arguments against it. Many states have specific laws or programs in place to fight problem gambling, but now some operators are taking control as well.
This has led to the Responsible Online Gaming Association (ROGA), and there were a total of seven operators working together for this initiative. The purpose of this new group is to share information about players that are banned from gambling, or those that have requested a timeout.
The seven operators that are now a part of this organization include:
- Bet365
- BetMGM
- DraftKings
- Fanatics
- FanDuel
- Hard Rock
- PENN Entertainment
More information about this new group is going to be trickling out, but this group will pledge $20 million in responsible gaming efforts in Year 1. There are other operators that currently accept wagers online, but this group makes up more than 80% of the iGaming market share.
Now that this group has been formed and is live, it could potentially entice some other states to legalize online casino gaming, or online sports betting. All seven of the operators listed above either currently have both industries, or are going to be moving in that direction.
More Problem Gaming in the U.S.
While it’s hard to accurately put a number on those that suffer from problem gaming, online sports betting accounts were up 15% over the past year. The Super Bowl in February saw the most bets ever recorded in a single day, and there are now nearly 40 states with iGaming options.
March is Problem Gaming Awareness Month, which is why this new group was announced at this time. Some of these operators have come under fire for their advertising or marketing campaigns that could potentially lead to some issues.
The ROGA is going to start by doing some research on problem gaming, before eventually trying to come up with some solutions. Eventually, this group is also going to spend time trying to warn customers about the dangers of problem gambling.
An independent data collection agency is going to be established, and that is where player’s information will be stored. Online sportsbooks or casinos are already required to have a Responsible Gaming statement, but this will take things to another level.
New Jersey Getting Serious
The state of New Jersey is a leader in both sports betting and online casino gambling, and lawmakers in that state are taking this problem seriously. Attorney General Matthew Platkin announced that this state was going to promote Responsible Gaming in a major way.
$300,000 is going to be dedicated to this new program in New Jersey and it aims to highlight the Responsible Gaming options found throughout the state. There are some great Responsible Gaming organizations found in New Jersey, but some bettors are not utilizing them.
New Jersey lawmakers are hoping to educate online bettors so that they don’t then have to provide support to those with problem gaming issues.
