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Michigan has been identified by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) as one of four US markets that fail to meet the minimum responsible gambling standards.
The NCPG released a report wherein it evaluated its Internet Responsible Gambling Standards in relation to the online gambling regulations in all seven legally permitted states in the United States.
Michigan came in fourth out of the seven states.
What did the NCPG responsible gambling report evaluate?
The NCPG report examined 59 essential aspects of responsible gambling measures, all of which can be categorized within nine distinct criteria.
- Policy
- Staff training
- Encouraging players to make informed decisions
- Assisting players
- Self-exclusion
- Advertising and promotion
- Game and website features
- Research
- Payments
Out of the total 59 points, Michigan was deemed to have explicitly addressed 36 points. This ranking positioned it as the fourth state out of the seven.
- Connecticut: 46
- New Jersey: 46
- Pennsylvania: 46
- Michigan: 36
- West Virginia: 30
- Delaware: 29
- Nevada: 28
The NCPG suggests that the best way to address gambling addiction problems associated with online gambling is to implement a comprehensive public health strategy. This strategy should encompass prevention, education, treatment, and research services. The adoption of responsible gambling standards is crucial in this approach. The NCPG recommends that all states with existing or potential plans to legalize online gambling should adopt the IRGS standards. By doing so, they can effectively safeguard consumers from the adverse effects of gambling.
The NCPG report was not commented upon by the Michigan Gaming Control Board.
Where Michigan graded well for Responsible Gambling
The NCPG clarifies that their report was compiled solely based on publicly accessible information from the jurisdiction and regulatory agency of each state. It should be noted that the report does not encompass any undisclosed documents containing supplementary regulatory requirements or guidelines.
Additionally, it recognizes the possibility that certain operators’ responsible gambling initiatives may go beyond the specific obligations set by laws and regulations in each jurisdiction.
Therefore, even if there were non-public requirements in place, it would still be considered a negative point against the state if the information they sought was not easily accessible and publicly available.
According to the NCPG report, Michigan’s responsible gambling efforts were highly praised in two specific areas.
- The state has met 7 out of 9 criteria for self-exclusion, which is tied with the highest number among all states.
- Players are provided with support to make informed decisions, as 12 out of the 16 criteria have been fulfilled.
The unchecked markings in both scenarios state, “not explicitly addressed.”
Self-Exclusion
Michigan was specifically found to have included self-exclusion under its gambling regulations.
- Self-exclusion availability
- Self-exclusion policy
- Exclusion length
- Communication with players excluded
- Conditions of exclusion
- Enforcement of exclusion
- Reinstatement from exclusion
The website of the MGCB provides a self-exclusion application, enabling bettors to voluntarily exclude themselves from gambling activities. Furthermore, it offers a comprehensive explanation of the entire process and its implications for individuals.
Supporting informed decision-making
Although there were more options in this section, Michigan satisfied most of the criteria.
The primary emphasis of this section revolved around:
- Players are furnished with comprehensive gambling information that prioritizes safety. This encompasses a range of topics such as setting limits, understanding game mechanics, preventing underage participation, recognizing the risks associated with gambling, and much more.
- Access to personal data related to responsible gambling.
- Setting limits: This encompassed the ability to establish deposit limits, time constraints, and mechanisms for blocking specific games.
- Time out
- Prohibition on reverse withdrawals
All online casinos in Michigan dedicate sections to responsible gambling, providing customers with comprehensive explanations of available options and empowering them to take necessary actions. These measures encompass setting personal limits on betting, managing time and monetary constraints, taking timeouts, and implementing various other precautionary steps.
Where Michigan graded poorly for Responsible Gambling
In a similar vein, Michigan’s performance was negatively assessed in four areas as a result of their failure to explicitly address their procedures.
- Policy: Only 2 out of 4 criteria have been fulfilled, with deficiencies observed in the areas of responsible gambling strategy, as well as annual evaluation and progress reporting.
- Staff Training: Only 2 out of 4 criteria met. Insufficient information provided on corporate policy and annual training concerning responsible gambling.
- Michigan only met one out of four criteria regarding advertising and promotion. The state failed to receive a passing mark because operators did not clearly express their dedication to responsible advertising. Additionally, operators did not advertise their product on responsible gambling pages, and the advertising was found to be deceptive in terms of game outcome and misrepresented game odds.
- Research shows that only two states have successfully met both criteria for transparency of play data and evaluation through research programs.
