The regulations of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) were recently released and keeping a watchful eye on the proceedings was Keith Whyte, the Executive Director of the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG). The newly-created UIGEA rules, which are set to be implemented officially on January 19th, cut off funds for gamblers, but do not directly address the roots of problem gambling or allocate money for it.
Whyte commented on the rules as they relate to internet gambling: “Like a lot of gambling legislation, while proponents talk about helping people with gambling problems, [the end product is] only a very indirect means. It would be like cutting off money for people who drink. It doesn’t address the root cause. It just makes it harder for them to gamble in one venue.” Whyte added that no money allocated to enforce the UIGEA regulations is earmarked for problem gambling.
According to the NCPG’s website, problem gambling is marked by increased “preoccupation with gambling, a need to bet more money more frequently, restlessness or irritability when attempting to stop, ‘chasing’ losses, and loss of control manifested by continuation of the gambling behavior in spite of mounting, serious, negative consequences.” Its website contains contact information for problem gambling counselors as well as literature covering the issue.
In terms of what existing online poker rooms are doing to address problem gambling, Whyte explained, “The online gambling industry has fallen into the trap of waiting for regulations before they address responsible gambling. I think that the industry should come out with a responsible gambling platform in advance of regulation. Most operators are reluctant to do a whole lot until a mandate comes down.” PokerStars, for example has a self-exclusion option that its members can register for. By doing so, customers can elect to have themselves blocked from hitting its felts for seven, 30, 60, or 120 days.
Full Tilt Poker encourages its members to e-mail Support with self-exclusion time frames ranging from 12 hours to 90 days. Deposits and withdrawals are not allowed during the specified time period and players are not permitted to end their exclusions early. Ultimate Bet has a similar procedure for self-exclusion. All three poker rooms suggest that problem gamblers install software such as GamBlock, which restricts access to online gambling sites.
Poker News Daily also asked Whyte to comment on the internet gambling squabble in Kentucky, where the State’s Governor, Steve Beshear, is attempting to seize control of 141 prominent internet gambling domain names. He noted, “If the State of Kentucky were to say that people should gamble on the Lottery because they deal with responsible gambling better, it would be a very tenuous statement. Kentucky spends less than $250,000 per year on problem gambling in the State. It’s better than nothing, but if online poker sites could stand up and say that Kentucky only does that and we do other innovative things, then maybe the court of public opinion would embrace it.”
Finally, with the worldwide economic slowdown, Whyte expects to see a growth of gambling offered to the general public throughout the United States: “I think that there will be expansion in terms of states legalizing new forms of gambling and loosening the regulations for existing forms.” For gamblers who may see an increased detrimental urge to risk money, the NCPG offers a hotline at 800-522-4700. The organization is based in Washington, D.C. It was founded in 1972 by Joseph A. Dunne and Dr. Robert Custer, among others.
