"Most casino patrons view gambling as a mix of witchery, mysticism, entertainment and dumb luck. Very few view it the deadly game that it is." 

  VP Pappy renown Las Vegas Gambler

Casino Safeguards

Each Tribal Casino is regulated by the respective tribe that operates the casino.  The Tribes can be innovative and chose to implement harm minimization strategies or wait until enough people are dealing with compulsive gambling and be forced, either by public opinion or federal governmental mandate to implement these type of strategies. 

New Zealand, Australia, Canada and other countries have already passed regulations that mandate the implementation of harm minimization strategies such as are listed below. Putting in place technologies to limit the gambler’s amount of time spent, amount of money spent and frequency of play will not affect the recreational gambler.  These strategies are designed to minimize the risk of progression from an entertainment gambler to a compulsive gambler. What Others are Doing

Most casinos in Oklahoma only provide a gambling addiction hotline number if someone ASKS for help. Most casinos have a self exclusion list , however the procedures for adding oneself to the list vary from casino to casino and they do not share the list between casinos.

The self-exclusion process is minimally effective in it's current form. The casinos do not actively search out gamblers who are on the list, they do not require I.D. to enter and there are no repercussions for the casino if they allow a self banned gambler to continue to gamble. Generally, the self banned gambler can continue to gamble and is only identified if he tries to cash in on a big enough win to require proof of I.D. then he is not allowed to collect his winnings and asked to leave. The Indian Gaming Industry in Oklahoma is relatively new and hopefully, with time many of these processes will evolve.

With rare exception, casinos in Oklahoma are so small that staff members can see from one end to the other and are easily capable of identifying patrons who are spending large amounts of time and money in the casino. The staff could identify these individuals without difficulty and intervene with appropriately trained staff.

Slot machines (Electronic Gaming Machines) are, by far, the most addiction prone form of gambling.

Casinos could help to limit addictive gambling by implementing the following suggestions:

1. I.D. all customers upon entry. This would minimize the chances of underage gambling and decrease the likelihood that a self-banned gambler will try enter a casino. Some casinos require that a player be 21, some still allow 18 year olds to gamble.

2. Require that all machines and table games utilize players cards with "smart card" technology. This would allow for the monitoring of amounts that gamblers are spending. These cards could be programmed to limit the playing time and amount of money spent in any given time period. The card could also be programmed to have "break periods" in which the gambler could not play for a period of time.

3. Machines should be programmed to periodically bring up a screen showing how much the player has played, won and lost.

4. Machines should have time played clocks on them.

5. Casinos should limit the amount of money that a gambler may play and the length of time that a gambler could play in any designated time period.

6. Send a monthly statement to gamblers showing both wins and losses. Most casinos that offer comps already monitor these activities in order to offer comps.

7. Ban all cashing of personal, pay and government issued checks. The gambler should have to walk through the door with all the money he can afford to lose. Some casinos do not cash any checks.

8. If check cashing is allowed, there should be a reasonable limit on the number of checks cashed and the amount that checks are cashed for in a given period.

9. Ban cash advances on credit cards. Generally the person who gets cash advances on their credit cards in a casino is the person who gambled more than they initially intended, in other words, the compulsive gambler. Again, the gambler should walk through the door with all the cash that he can afford to lose.

10. Eliminate or limit the use of ATM machines. ATM withdrawals can be limited in the number of withdrawals and the amount withdrawn in a given time period.

11. Coordinate procedures, simplify and share all self-ban lists with other casinos in the state.

12. The gambler should be able to add himself to the self ban list at a location other than the casino premises. Many gamblers do not have enough control to walk into a casino without the overwhelming urge to gamble.

13. Allow for the creation of a "concerned family member list." Once the family places the gambler's name on the list, the family should be able to list bank accounts and credit card numbers that the gambler cannot use. The gambler should be notified if he tries to use these accounts that his family has placed him on this list and he should be offered gambling addiction hotline numbers and written materials regarding gambling addiction.

14. Place gambling addiction hotline numbers at all cashier cages, ATM's, bathrooms and public areas of the casino. If the casino has hotel rooms attached the same information should be available there too.

15. Actively and continually train their employees to recognize and intervene when a problem gambler is identified.

16. Have trained staff to counsel and make referrals for problem gamblers.

17. Harm minimization technology should be utilized such as slowing down speed of play, limiting the amount of money that can be played in a particular time period, clocks on machines to show length of time played, forced breaks for gamblers at designated time intervals, forced breaks after big wins or losses, overall play time limitations for specified time period, limiting the amount that could be lost in a given time period, etc. All of these could be accomplished with "smart" player card technology.

18. Clocks should be installed.

19. Lighting should be changed so that natural light is allowed in the casino.

20. Set aside revenues for development of gambling addiction treatment and resources for the gambler and the family. These services should be fully funded from the gaming industry as a cost of doing business.

21. Advertising should not be aimed at gamblers under the age of 25 or the elderly.

22. Advertising should carry a "play responsibly" message.

23. Large jackpots should be paid by check and those checks should not be cashed in the casino.

24. Remove bank note acceptors from machines.  Use player’s smart card technology to load money on to card at centralized site..

25. Post actual odds of winning.

WHAT OTHERS ARE DOING

Copyright 2007

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