Atlantic City Casinos Welcome State Responsible Gaming Task Force
- 19 Jun 2024
- Gambling News
Governor Phil Murphy (D) of New Jersey launched the first-ever Responsible Gaming Task Force, and the state's nine casinos are supporting the move.
Murphy established the Responsible Gaming Task Force (RGTF) last week by signing Executive Order No. 360. The governor's office and the state attorney general will receive advice and suggestions regarding reforms to enable responsible participation in New Jersey's large gaming sector from the seven-member Task Force.
The Task Force's establishment was welcomed by the Casino Association of New Jersey (CANJ), which represents the nine casinos along the shore in legislative negotiations with Trenton.
"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.
Matt Platkin, the Democratic Attorney General, will preside over the RGTF. James Plousis, the chair of the Casino Control Commission, and Mary Jo Flaherty, the interim director of the Division of Gaming Enforcement, are among the other appointed members.
Looked for Solutions
The Center for Gambling Studies at Rutgers University found in a 2023 report that the number of problem gamblers in the Garden State is rising. After Nevada, New Jersey has the second-highest gaming revenue.
Atlantic City casinos, retail and online sports betting, iGaming, and parimutuel wagering are all located in New Jersey.
The gaming income in New Jersey reached an all-time high of $5.77 billion last year. In 2023, state revenue exceeded $595.5 million. According to estimates from the American Gaming Association, the state gaming sector supports around 52,000 employment and has an annual economic effect of almost $12 billion.
Naturally, Murphy and state representatives want to see the gambling business continue to grow, as do the casinos. And responsible play is a cornerstone of a thriving gaming industry.
“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.”
Regarding Data
According to the Rutgers study, 6% of adult New Jerseyans are thought to be at high risk for problem gambling. This is a substantial increase from the estimated 1-2% nationwide norm.
Residents of New Jersey who identify as Black or Hispanic run the highest risk of either planning to gamble before placing their first wager or wagering more than they can afford to lose. Up to 15% of those ethnic groups, according to the survey, are "high-risk problem gamblers."
According to the survey, those with the lowest household incomes—defined as those making less than $15,000 annually—are more likely to be high-risk problem gamblers.
"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 believed that a state-wide initiative to promote responsible play is hampered by New Jersey's multiple regulatory bodies that keep an eye on gaming-related activities.
“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.
