The new video conference option reduces barriers for patrons to address their problem gambling by completing the process without leaving their homes.
New Jersey officials unveiled two new tools to assist problem gamblers in the state — a dedicated hotline and a virtual self-exclusion option.
In a statement, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJDGE) said individuals seeking to exclude themselves from gaming activities could contact the regulator at 1-833-788-4DGE, a toll-free number where callers can learn about the self-exclusion process and to get started.
Hotline callers can also schedule in-person appointments with NJDGE staff specially trained to assist problem gamblers.
There is also a new service where individuals can schedule a video conference with NJDGE staff to self-exclude. “The new video conference option reduces barriers for patrons to address their problem gambling by completing the process without leaving their homes,” the NJDGE said.
Both tools were launched during the NBA and NHL playoffs.
The regulator added that individuals can also self-exclude from online gambling by filling out an application on its website and verifying their identity. An in-person meeting is required to self-exclude from gambling at brick-and-mortar casinos.
[NJ is] now focusing on making our pioneering state the standard in responsible gaming practices.
“New Jersey has always been a national leader in gaming, as the first to allow casino gambling outside Nevada and the first to launch internet gaming,” New Jersey Attorney General (AG) Matthew Platkin said in a statement on June 12. “We are now focusing on making our pioneering state the standard in responsible gaming practices.
“The efforts announced today underscore our commitment to helping problem gamblers by expanding the entry points for self-exclusion and other methods to receive assistance.”
NJDGE Director David Rebuck concurred. “We hope the new tools being unveiled today will help to further reduce the risk of problem gambling,” he said. “By promoting responsible gaming practices, we can help keep gaming an enjoyable and entertaining activity for all.”
The regulator added that it was also preparing to launch an updated landing page dedicated to responsible gaming on its website. NJDGE said the new landing page will include:
- Self-exclusion information
- Annual reports by Rutgers University on the impact of online casino gaming and sports betting
- The regulator’s responsible gaming best practices for operators
- A list of responsible gaming regulations
The moves come one month after New Jersey Deputy AG Jamie McKelvey was selected as the regulator’s first Responsible Gaming Coordinator. She is tasked with developing, overseeing, and implementing NJDGE’s current and future responsible gaming initiatives.
McKelvey’s hiring follows a series of new initiatives announced by Platkin during the East Coast Gaming Congress in April. The initiatives include new advertising standards designed to limit ads in locations where individuals under 21 can see them and allow the public to opt out of direct-by-mail advertising.
Earlier this year, the NJDGE unveiled a first-in-the-nation initiative requiring online operators to analyze data collected from their customers to find those considered the most at risk of developing a gambling problem.
“Gamblers exhibiting warning signs are now approached using various circumstance-dependent interventions, including progressive responses if the indications of a potential disorder keep recurring after attempts are made to assist,” the NJDGE said of its operator initiative.
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