New York State’s Responsible Play Partnership (RPP) has announced additional collaborative measures to help prevent problem gambling in the US state.
The RPP is a shared initiative between the New York State Gaming Commission, the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) and the New York Council on Problem Gambling (NYCPG) to help address problem gambling, as well as ensure all gaming entities are compliant with rules and regulations and offer help to individuals who need it.
Further measures being implemented by the RPP include “providing prompt support to gamblers who find themselves in crisis, ensuring that gaming industry workers are properly trained to identify and interact with potential problem gamblers and collecting specific data from mobile sports wagering operators to better research its impact on New Yorkers”.
Discussions for the additional measures took place at the del Lago Resort & Casino in Waterloo earlier this week, bringing further support and services to the Finger Lakes and Central New York regions.
“The RPP was formed to bridge the gaps between all stakeholders to address problem gambling,” commented Robert Williams, Executive Director of the New York State Gaming Commission.
“These latest spans bring timely help to those who need it, ensure that industry employees know how to address the issue, and ensure that we are obtaining meaningful data to properly scope mobile sports wagering’s reach.”
From 12 November, New York’s voluntary self-exclusion service will include an option for individuals to opt-in to being contacted in a timely manner by a trained gambling harms staff from the OASAS HOPEline.
In addition, the NYCPG has updated its problem gambling training for gaming employees in the state. This training will help them spot the signs and symptoms of problem gambling behaviour, know how to interact with individuals who may be struggling, as well as provide employees with an overview of applicable statutes and regulations and OASAS research findings.
“New York State has instituted protections to guard against problem gambling, as well as help individuals affected find the help they need,” said Dr. Chinazo Cunningham, Commissioner for OASAS.
“We will continue to work with our colleagues in the Responsible Play Partnership to expand and enhance these supports, improve training on how to promote responsible gambling, and ensure that all New Yorkers can access help and support.”
The Gaming Commission has also proposed regulations requiring sports betting operators to report specific data to the Commission every year after spotting inconsistencies in previously reported data.
“The Commission and OASAS are required to report annually on ‘the impact of mobile sports wagering on problem gamblers in New York, including, to the extent practicable, an analysis of demographics which are disproportionately impacted by the problem gambling”, the Commission’s statement read.
“The Commission and OASAS found in the 2022 and 2023 reports that several mobile sports wagering operators have not consistently maintained such information in a manner to appropriately gauge which populations are participating in mobile sports wagering and how they wager.”
The proposed regulations state that the specific reported data includes:
- Total amount wagered and number of bets placed
- Total amount and number of bets won
- Total amount wagered on each sport
- Total number of accounts, including new accounts created and average account balances
- Total number of accounts permanently closed and the number of self-exclusions
Each account’s sports betting skin must also provide to the Commission:
- The zip code
- Total amount wagered
- Number of bets placed
- Money won or lost
- Time on the platform
- Number of times they access the responsible play webpage
- Number of times they reach the statutory deposit betting-pause threshold and what action the player took
- The day of the week and hour of day the most wagers are placed and most money is wagered
- Account holders’ gender and race and ethnicity, if voluntarily provided
Lance Young, General Manager and EVP of del Lago Resort & Casino, added: “del Lago staff is dedicated to delivering world-class hospitality, and ensuring our guests have access to responsible gaming resources is a pillar of that.
“Across our entertainment facilities, our team strives to provide the level of personal service that allows them to recognise the signs of problem behaviour and connect guests with the resources that can help. We thank our state and local partners for their work with us to promote responsible play and provide support for those who need it.”
