Atlantic City Casinos Welcome State Responsible Gaming Task Force
The nine casinos in Atlantic City are welcoming New Jersey's creation of the inaugural Responsible Gaming Task Force, a project led by Gov. Phil Murphy (D).
Last week, Murphy signed Executive Order No. 360 to create the Responsible Gaming Task Force (RGTF). The seven-member Task Force will offer guidance and suggestions to the governor’s office and state attorney general regarding reforms aimed at promoting responsible involvement in New Jersey’s extensive gaming industry.
The Casino Association of New Jersey (CANJ), representing the interests of the nine casinos along the coast, expressed support for the establishment of the Task Force.
"The Atlantic City casino industry applauds New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy for his leadership in addressing the issue of problem gambling in New Jersey through the formation of the Responsible Gaming Task Force. We are ready to work in partnership with the Murphy Administration to promote the well-being of our customers and the broader community in this effort,” a CANJ statement provided to Casino.org read.
The RGTF will be led by Attorney General Matt Platkin (D). Other appointed members consist of Casino Control Commission Chair James Plousis and Division of Gaming Enforcement Interim Director Mary Jo Flaherty.
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A report from Rutgers University’s Center for Gambling Studies in 2023 determined that rates of problem gambling are rising in the Garden State. New Jersey ranks as the second-wealthiest gaming state following Nevada.
New Jersey hosts casinos in Atlantic City, along with retail and online sports betting, iGaming, and parimutuel betting.
Last year, gaming revenue in New Jersey reached more than $5.77 billion, marking a record-setting high. In 2023, state taxes amounted to over $595.5 million. The American Gaming Association estimates that the state's gaming sector has an annual economic influence of almost $12 billion and provides support for around 52,000 jobs.
Murphy and government officials aim to support the gaming sector, and certainly the casinos share this goal. A cornerstone of a robust gaming market is responsible gaming.
“New Jersey is known to be a gaming destination with historic locations like Atlantic City, amusement gaming at the Jersey Shore, notable horse racing venues, and more,” said Murphy. “This Task Force will see to it that we maintain our global leadership in gaming by ensuring that we have the tools needed to address problem gaming for our residents.”
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The Rutgers research estimated that 6% of adult residents in New Jersey are at a high risk for problematic gambling, notably higher than the national average expected to be approximately 1-2%.
Black and Hispanic individuals in New Jersey face the greatest risk of betting more than they can afford to lose or intended to wager before placing their initial bet. The report identified that more than 15% of individuals from those ethnic groups are classified as “high-risk problem gamblers.”
The report revealed that individuals with the lowest household incomes — categorized as earning under $15,000 annually — are the most likely to be high-risk problem gamblers.
"The results highlight the need for thoughtful consideration of the impacts of continued gambling expansion and the potential need to regulate or otherwise limit high-risk activities or advertising that targets particular groups or provides misleading promises,” the Rutgers executive summary read.
Researchers suggested that the many regulatory bodies in New Jersey overseeing gaming activities hinder a statewide initiative to enhance responsible gambling.
“Those agencies have separate policies governing responsible gaming, including varying terms for self-exclusion and requirements for sign up (e.g., online versus in-person). Going forward, establishing best practices will necessitate the development of uniform regulations around RG initiatives and practices, including online access to self-exclusion sign-up and limit-setting features, in a way that is the least stigmatizing for individual consumers,” the report concluded.
