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  • Anti-Smoking Advocates Address Gambling Policymakers in Open Letter

    Anti-Smoking Advocates Address Gambling Policymakers in Open Letter

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    In a recent open letter to various gambling regulators across the USA, Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights (ANR) urged gaming officials to ban indoor smoking in casinos and other gambling establishments. The letter highlighted that allowing indoor smoking on gaming floors is dangerous, poses health hazards to employees and patrons, and contradicts responsible gaming principles.

    Indoor Smoking Has Direct Ties to Gambling Harm

    ANR argued that smoke-free environments could not only improve public health but also promote more responsible gambling behaviors by naturally limiting the time players spend at machines or tables. The letters also cite a study from Vegas-based consultant company C3 Gaming that highlights the link between smoking and problem gambling.

    Smoking on gaming floors…undermines responsible gaming by encouraging addictive behavior as well as prolonged gambling sessions without taking breaks.

    ANR letter

    The National Council on Problem Gaming (NCPG), the leading US gambling harm prevention organization, has continuously urged for an indoor casino smoking ban across all jurisdictions. The NCPG noted that a smoke-free policy can get smokers to go outside regularly and may help eliminate continuous gambling, which is frequently associated with gambling harm.

    The ANR letter also cited data from New Jersey, known to be one of the most critical areas experiencing gambling addiction, as approximately 6.3% of the adults in the state struggle with gambling problems. During the COVID-19 pandemic, New Jersey temporarily banned indoor smoking in casinos as part of public health measures but later lifted the restriction.

    Banning Smoking Could Hurt Casino Revenues

    Despite publicly acknowledging the harmful link between smoking and gambling addiction, few casinos have stepped up to implement smoke-free policies. The letter alleged that gambling establishments had an incentive to keep patrons inside as long as possible, explaining their reluctance to ban smoking despite rising public pressure, as such a measure could potentially hurt their revenues.

    A [2022] study commissioned by the Casino Association of New Jersey projects gaming revenue losses based on smokers having to take breaks, which is the antithesis of one of the principles of responsible gaming.

    ANR letter

    Anti-smoking tensions reached their peak in Atlantic City. Casino workers frustrated by what they feel is a lack of protection against secondhand smoke recently filed an appeal with the New Jersey Supreme Court. They argued that state protections, customary in other sectors, are denied to gambling sector employees because casinos receive special exemptions.

    ANR seeks to correct these issues and is urging policymakers and gaming commissions to take a hard look at how allowing smoking inside casinos undermines efforts to foster responsible gaming environments. The organization has invited regulators from Nevada, New Jersey and other jurisdictions to meet and discuss how smoke-free policies could enhance the safety and health of patrons and employees while promoting responsible gambling.

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    Deyan Dimitrov

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  • Gambling Addiction Hotlines Witness Rise in Calls amid US Betting Surge

    Gambling Addiction Hotlines Witness Rise in Calls amid US Betting Surge

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    The expansion of sports betting has been ongoing for less than a decade and now more than half of the US states offer the popular activity. The statewide expansion of betting granted sports fans and bettors alike options for legal wagering on sports. This resulted in a decrease in the number of people who use the services of illegal, offshore operators while helping generate taxes in states where betting is legal.

    Besides taxes, the legal betting sector brought benefits for the consumers, as licensed operators adhere to established regulatory standards, including rules for player protection from excessive gambling. States where wagering on sports is legal also dedicate a portion of the tax revenue to treating and combating gambling harm and addiction.

    Yet, despite the good intentions of lawmakers across the country, the expansion of wagering likely was one of the major factors that contributed to an uptick in gambling addictions. Recently, local media reported that the number of problem gambling contacts in Florida skyrocketed. Data from the Council on Problem Gambling in Florida revealed that the number of calls, texts and emails skyrocketed since the launch of sports betting back in December.

    The Expansion of Betting Contributes to the Increase of Problem Gambling

    Besides Florida, a newly released report by NBC News suggests that an uptick in the number of problem gambling calls is observed in a number of states. To make matters worse, the expansion of betting helps attract a younger crowd, with more people in their 20s and 30s seeking treatment and support due to problem gambling.

    According to the new report, the calls to Ohio’s Problem Gambling Network soared by 55% in 2023. This happened after the first full year of legal betting action.

    Similarly, in Pennsylvania, the volume of problem gambling calls also increased exponentially. Between 2020 and 2023, the volume of calls with the state’s Council on Problem Gambling more than doubled.

    “We have every reason to believe the growth of online sports betting is a major contributing factor to the increase in gambling problems.“

    Keith Whyte, executive director of the NCPG

    Keith Whyte, the National Council on Problem Gambling’s (NCPG) executive director, revealed that since 2018, there has been a notable increase in the severity and rate of problem gambling across the country. This was the same year when the US Supreme Court struck down PASPA which paved the way for the expansion of betting across the US.

    Whyte added that the expansion of betting contributes to the ongoing increase in problem gambling. Considering the easy access to wagers, he said that that sports betting apps should offer even easier options for self-exclusion, time and spending limits as well as contact with the national helpline for problem gambling.

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    Jerome García

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