National Council on Problem Gambling Gives Pennsylvania Passing Regulations Grade

The National Council on Problem Gambling recently released a report outlining the potency of regulations and standards placed on online gambling by the seven states that offer iGaming services to customers.

Out of the seven states, Pennsylvania tied with two other states for the best regulations and safety practices when it comes to preventing problem gambling on their websites and apps. Delaware, Michigan, Nevada, and West Virginia all received below-standard grades. The NCPG wrote that safety regulations in those four states “do not mandate operators provide players with sufficient responsible gambling protections.”

Pennsylvania’s iGaming market opened in June 2019. The NCPG report shows state regulators have successfully prevented problem gambling on a wide scale by implementing guidelines that help players receive all the information they need before making a wager.

Online gambling websites and apps, such as BetMGM, in Pennsylvania, offer online slots plus popular table games such as online blackjack and roulette.

Of the 59 evaluation points in the NCPG report, Pennsylvania met 46 standards. While the Pennsylvania casinos tied New Jersey and Connecticut for the highest point total, the report suggested improvements could provide a safer environment for problem gamblers.

The report stated, “Regulations from Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania met a majority of the standards outlined in the IRGS, but still fall short of meeting the full list. IRGS sets the standard for consumers to ensure whichever operator they choose; they can be confident that the platform has the responsible gambling tools necessary to assist in playing safely.”

The NCPG report cited 13 areas where Pennsylvania could provide better service to problem gamblers, including access to help and renewing limits regarding self-exclusions on gaming apps and websites.

Pennsylvania online casinos, coming off a record revenue year, also struggled to receive high marks when providing safe outlets to problem gamblers, such as free games and encouraging players to withdraw their winnings.

Overall, the report suggested that Pennsylvania’s online gaming operators have built a solid foundation to help problem gamblers but outlined over a dozen ways they could improve safety and prevent customers from losing significant amounts of money.