Question of the Day - 21 March 2020

“There is no mandated exclusion program in Nevada,” responds Carol O’Hare of the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling. “The only requirement by regulation is a 'self-limitation' rule that says the casino must honor a guest's request to no longer receive credit, check-cashing, or direct-mail-marketing privileges. But it does not require the casino to physically ban the guest. Signing up for that must be done at each casino; there is no centralized state-wide program.”

To be technical, the issue is covered under Regulation 5.170 of the Nevada gaming code. Among other things, it mandates that casinos must “post or provide in conspicuous places in or near gaming and cage areas and cash dispensing machines located in gaming areas written materials concerning the nature and symptoms of problem gambling and the toll-free telephone number of the National Council on Problem Gambling or a similar entity approved by the Board Chair that provides information and referral services for problem gamblers.”

Employees who directly interact with gamblers are also to be trained to recognize the “nature and symptoms of problem gambling behavior and [assist] patrons in obtaining information about problem gambling programs.”

And casinos that issue credit, cash checks, or engage in direct-mail marketing are instructed to “implement standards and procedures that allow a patron to be prohibited from access to check cashing, the issuance of credit, and the participation in direct-mail marketing of gaming opportunities.”

However, the multi-point strictures stop well short of enabling patrons to trespass themselves from casinos. They also don't require said casinos to 86 nominally self-excluded players. Short of being in the Black Book, there’s not much that can keep you off a Nevada casino floor. (New Jersey is far stricter about such matters, as is Pennsylvania.)

With the state taking a relatively hands-off attitude, are any companies leading by example? “Probably the best company self-exclusion program is offered by Caesars,” resumes O’Hare. “When you sign up, you're automatically entered into their master database that bans you from all Caesars properties. They offer the program everywhere regardless of whether there is a state-mandated program or not.”

More casino companies would do well to follow Caesars Entertainment’s lead.