New Jersey to identify gambling addicts through online gaming site records

Robert Walker

The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office is investigating online gamblers with addictions through sifting through the data of online gaming sites, according to Attorney General Matthew Platkin. The first-of-its-kind program in the state will be conducted using data collected by online gaming operators that has been provided to the state’s top law enforcement agency.

“As part of the Initiative, the DGE will work with online wagering companies to use technology to identify and work to address at-risk patrons. Operators of gambling platforms will now be required to analyze electronically maintained player data to determine whether a patron is showing signs of problem gambling behavior,” Platkin said today.

Platkin said the initiative has been in planning since March 2022 and launched on January 1st.

“Under the Murphy Administration, New Jersey has become a national leader in online casino games and sports wagering, and with that growth comes a responsibility to ensure that individuals at risk for compulsive gambling have access to the resources they need to get help,” said Attorney General Platkin. “It is no coincidence that our announcement comes just a week ahead of one of the biggest days in sports wagering, serving as a reminder of how devastating a gambling addiction can be. This new initiative will allow the Division of Gaming Enforcement to work with the gaming industry to identify problematic patterns in player wagering behavior and intervene before they escalate.”


According to Platkin, online player data is already captured by operators.


“But now that data will be used in a new way, to uncover potential problem gambling patterns. As part of the terms and conditions in user agreements that must be signed before access is granted to online gambling platforms, players consent to have their play monitored and recorded in order to, among other things, prevent fraud, identity theft, theft, and cheating,” Platkin sid. “Operators of online wagering platforms also currently train their staff members who interact with players to identify red flags indicative of a gambling disorder — but this new effort ensures that data, not just observation by platform personnel, will be used to pinpoint players who might need help, and dedicated responsible gaming personnel will reach out to them.”

If you’re an online gambler, here’s what the state is looking for:

  • players whose gambling time increases from week to week,
  • bettors who repeatedly self-impose cool-off periods from gaming,
  • those who wager until they have less than one dollar in their accounts, and
  • players who regularly access the self-exclusion page on the operator’s website without ultimately executing an exclusion.

“We are using data to identify at-risk players, alert them to their suspected disordered gambling, and inform them about available responsible gambling features in online platforms and corrective actions they can take,” said DGE Director David Rebuck. “This new approach will enable dedicated responsible gaming experts employed by the platforms and us to see the early warning signs and reach at-risk patrons before they find themselves in a financial catastrophe.”

Since its inception, New Jersey has collected nearly $1 billion in online gambling revenue, out of $5 billion in total receipts by online gaming operators licensed by the state.

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