Online Casinos Must Step Up
There have been several studies that indicate regulating
online casinos will not increase problem gambling rates. That does not stop
family group from asserting that legalizing online casinos in the United States
from being socially irresponsible. It may be likely that many of these “family
groups” are being backed by brick and mortar gambling establishments, hiding
behind the family cause to achieve their very separate agenda of weeding out
competition. However, in order for online casinos to get the legislation needed
to bring the industry back to the United States the industry will need to make
protecting teens online a priority.
According to a study from the Oregon Department of Health
Services, online casinos may need to focus on creating tighter age verification
processes. Although there are not many statistics liking online casinos to a
rise in problem gambling, the Oregon study does show that underage participation
in free gambling games is on a rise with children the between the ages of 12 and
17 years of age.
“The emergence of free gambling on the Internet is no
surprise, but is of real concern,” said Paul D. Potter, Oregon Department of
Health Services problem gambling manager.
Online casinos and the Internet
gambling industry are not ignorant of child protection needs. On the contrary,
most licensed online casinos make every effort to prevent underage gambling for
money, but just as many online casinos do not make a fuss about preventing
children from accessing their free play games. The fear is that this early
exposure to gambling action will in the long run create new problem gambling
cases.