Regulators, industry continue moving against problem gambling

CARSON CITY -- Nevada's casino industry continues to take the first small steps to steer compulsive gamblers away from the slots and tables and towards counseling.

Slot route operators this week promoted a new program in which they are placing stickers on gambling machines advising them how to get help.

And a state regulation, expected to be adopted Nov. 2 by the Nevada Gaming Commission, was endorsed Thursday by the Nevada Resort Association and the Nevada Retail Gaming Association.

It requires all gaming licensees to post signs or have available information on the nature and symptoms of problem gambling and the toll-free telephone number of the National Council on Problem Gambling.

Employees will be required to receive minimal training on awareness of the problem and aiding patrons in obtaining information. Written forms must also be available telling customers how they can stop their check cashing ability and credit line and how to stop getting promotional mail on gaming activities.

Dennis Neilander, the state Gaming Control Board member who developed the regulation, said there's nothing in it to exclude problem gamblers from casinos. Employees will not be required to diagnose those suspected of having a problem.

The regulation also does not deal with casinos encouraging problem gamblers to continue playing. Commission Chairman Bill Curran said he has never heard of that type of a problem in his eight-year tenure.

Neilander told a public hearing conducted by the commission, "This is seen as the first step," but it's not the last.

Sean Higgins, head of the Nevada Retail Gaming Association, said his organization already has brochures printed and small stickers to place on the face of the estimated 15,000 slot machines controlled by slot route operators in his organization.

These slots are in convenience stores, supermarkets, bars and similar locations. The sticker, about two inches long and about one-half inch wide says, "Gambling Problem? 1-800-552-4700. Problem Gambler Hotline."

The brochures talk about problem gambling, lists the warning signs and how to get help. Higgins said these would also be offered to other businesses not in the association.

Robert Faiss, Las Vegas attorney for the Nevada Resort Association, which represents casinos in Southern Nevada, said it strongly endorses the concept of the regulation and called it "long overdue."

Carol O'Hare, executive director of the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling, agreed it should not be up to casino employees to identify problem gamblers -- that takes a clinical evaluation. And she agreed the regulation should not be written to keep problem gamblers out of casinos.

"The key issue is for the person to take personal responsibility," she said. Her organization works with Gamblers Anonymous, which has about 100 chapters in Nevada, 65 of them in Las Vegas.

Her organization would provide training to casino workers. Some casinos, such as Harrah's, already do this.

Neilander said of the training, "We're not talking about a college course. We're talking about basic."

Another public hearing is set for Las Vegas on Tuesday. The commission will then hold a telephone conference meeting on Nov. 2 between Las Vegas and Carson City to adopt the regulation.

The Legislature has also authorized $150,000 for a study on how extensive problem gambling is in Nevada.

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