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As casino and gambling revenue continues to climb in New Jersey, state officials announced steps to rein in the kinds of advertising that would be allowed in the state industry.
The move also for the creation of “a new position dedicated to responsible gambling,” and for the state to set new advertising standards for operators, said New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin’s office.
It also allows for a more “simplified” method of self-exclusion, where problem gamblers struggling with addiction can volunteer to ban themselves from casino and online gambling.
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Rather than meet in person or apply online, there will now be a video-conference option to be added to the gambling exclusion list. The state is also creating a 24/7 help line to answer questions about how one could be added to that list.
© Thomas P. Costello The new purple carpeting that is filling the casino floor at Harrah’s in Atlantic City, NJ, shown Friday, May 14, 2021.
“As New Jersey’s gaming and sports wagering industries continue to grow and mature, so do our obligations to assist patrons who are at risk for problem gambling,” Platkin said.
The move Thursday comes as lawmakers aim to further clamp down on the gambling and sports betting industry, where they argue addiction has spiraled out of control.
One bill lawmakers are considering bans on sports betting advertising at public colleges and universities; another creates a court diversion program for people suffering gambling addiction; and another bill requires high schools to include gambling addiction in their health curriculum.
During March, New Jersey’s nine casinos brought in nearly $168 million from online gambling, a nearly 18% increase from March 2022, according to state figures. Sportsbooks brought in $93 million last month, or 40% more than last March.
“In the face of that boom, we have a duty to protect the public from advertising that could be misleading or harmful,” said David Rebuck, director of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, which regulates the state’s casino industry. “And for those in the grip of gambling addiction, we need to offer as many exit ramps from their condition as possible.”
Thursday’s announcement was made at the East Coast Gaming Congress held at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey’s gambling capital.
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A responsible gaming coordinator will be hired
The responsible gaming coordinator would be an experienced attorney who would report directly to the DGE director and be tasked with identifying “gaps and problems” in the state’s responsible gaming work.
Under the advertising standards, ads would be restricted in locations where it might entice someone under 21 years of age to gamble, like a high school sports game. The standards make it that 1-800-GAMBLER has to be prominently displayed on ads.
Operators can’t make promises of “guaranteed wins” or “risk-free bets” if the patron won’t be fully compensated for the money they lose; and wagering requirements need to be made fully clear in the terms and conditions.
Advertisers also need to provide the public with the “ability to swiftly opt out of direct advertising,” the Thursday announcement said.
State officials did not immediately return inquiries on what happens to operators who do not follow these standards.
With easy access to online gambling, more people are at risk
“The increase of online gambling opportunities, access and the amount of advertising has put many more people in New Jersey at risk for problem gambling,” said Felicia Grondin, executive director of the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, which runs the state helpline.
“These measures will help enforce and expand responsible gaming, and will be bolstered with the establishment of a Responsible Gaming Coordinator
In February ahead of the Super Bowl, state officials said they were rolling out a program to scrutinize gambler data to track for signs of problem betting.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ sets standards for gambling ads, creates role for responsible gaming coordinator