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.