Problem gambling body launches internet program
News on 12 Aug 2014
News on 12 Aug 2014
The National Council on Problem Gambling has teamed up with Gambling Integrity Services to help online gambling operators licensed in the USA to comply with NCPG’s Internet Responsible Gambling Standards.
The NCPG will contract with Gambling Integrity Services (GIS) to perform independent evaluation, including mystery shopping by trained testers, of the sites that apply for assessment.
Keith Whyte, executive director of NCPG, said, “We understand that many Internet gambling operators have responsible gaming policies in place that go beyond the state regulations. They will now have the opportunity to receive an independent assessment of their responsible gaming programs compared with NCPG’s Standards. We want established operators to sign up and become trailblazers for this initiative, demonstrating just how seriously they take player protection.”
Those sites in compliance with a sufficient number of the criteria will be awarded a certificate, Whyte added. NCPG will work with GIS over the next several months to finalise the assessment process and begin the trial phase. The first compliance testing is scheduled to begin this fall.
Malcolm Bruce, GIS founder and director, said his company would check that applicant operators are protecting players in accordance with the criteria that NCPG have established.
“State regulations often stipulate only the bare minimum levels of protection and operators have a lot to prove in this area if they want to succeed in expanding online gambling in the US,” he said.
GIS is an international consultancy advising regulators, governments and companies on all aspects of gambling consumer protection, and has extensive experience with responsible gaming audits and benchmarking for online and land-based gambling operators.
The GIS Scientific Advisory Board includes noted problem gambling experts Dr. Henrietta Bowden-Jones, Dr. Rachel Volberg and Dr. Robert Williams.
NCPG developed the United States’ first Internet Responsible Gambling Standards in 2012. Based on best practices from jurisdictions around the world, aspects of the Standards have been incorporated into regulation in a number of jurisdictions.
Copies of the Internet Responsible Gambling Standards and NCPG US Online Gambling Regulations Report are available at: http://www.ncpgambling.org/programs-resources/responsible-gaming/.
