Given that compliance with the regulations of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) has been delayed six months to June 1st, 2010, research on the effects of online gaming may now take center stage as lawmakers craft sensible legislation. At the helm of the National Council on Problem Gambling is Keith Whyte, who sat down with Poker News Daily to discuss the internet side of problem gambling research.

In June, Congressmen Jim Moran (D-VA), Lee Terry (R-NE), and Frank Wolf (R-VA) introduced HR 2906, the Comprehensive Problem Gambling Act. The bill boasts 26 co-sponsors on both sides of the aisle and allocates $71 million over five years for problem gambling awareness, research, and treatment. Its language was incorporated into Senator Robert Menendez’s (D-NJ) S 1597, the Internet Poker and Game of Skill Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act.

Poker News Daily: Thank you for joining us. Talk a little bit about the differences between live and online problem gambling research.

Whyte: A lot of the research we have is not online and there may be some significant differences between online and live players. When we think about online players, one of the ways I try to break it down is to look at the risk factors for gambling problems: high speed of play, social isolation, use of credit cards, higher limits, and easy access. Those can all be found in the online arena. All of the studies have found that internet gambling users tend to be younger and male. Also cited is that online gamblers are not necessarily losing a lot of money; they are just on there 14 hours a day to the detriment of their work and family life. Problem gambling is not just about the money.

PND: Online gamblers have access to a wide variety of options like poker, blackjack, sports, and casino carnival games. Does that increase, decrease, or not affect the propensity for problem gambling to occur?

Whyte: It’s a pretty robust finding that the more types of things you gamble on, the more likely you are to have a gambling problem. The fact that online gamblers tend to play more types of games means that they are more likely to develop a gambling problem.

PND: Is an online problem gambling study in the works?

Whyte: As we work on Capitol Hill, there are a lot of people asking questions about the online environment. One of the reasons we haven’t done the research is funding and resources. As an advocacy organization for programs that assist problem gamblers, a lot of our focus is on prevention and treatment. For example, we’re still trying to build a safety net for problem gamblers at the state level. We are keen on trying to understand this better and I’d like to see the National Council in a position to support that research.

PND: Have any online poker or internet gambling sites come to you looking for research or offering assistance?

Whyte: bwin has collaborated with Harvard University. Other examples have included the involvement of eCOGRA, but it’s nothing that we’ve done directly.

PND: Will regulation of the industry through a bill like Congressman Barney Frank’s (D-MA) HR 2267, the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act, deter problem gambling?

Whyte: That’s one of the concerns we have at the state level right now. We have no confirmation that regulated gambling is more responsible; it’s how that regulation is done. We’ve had problems with state governments not collecting and releasing information, which makes it much more difficult for us to act.

Related Posts:

1. National Council on Problem Gambling Comments on Menendez Bill
2. National Council on Problem Gambling Holds HR 2906 Press Conference
3. National Council on Problem Gambling Announces 2010 Portland Conference
4. EU vs US Internet Gambling Dispute Could Head to WTO
5. Focus on the Family Reacts to Barney Frank Internet Gambling Bills
6. Barney Frank Internet Gambling Bill to be Marked Up Tuesday
7. Barney Frank Introduces Comprehensive Internet Gambling Legislation
8. Bob Barr Comments on the Future of Internet Gambling
9. Minnesota Department of Public Safety Discusses Internet Gambling Ban
10. Internet Gambling Comes Under Fire in Kentucky
11. Barney Frank to Introduce Internet Gambling Legislation after April 20th
12. Senator Wyden Withdraws Proposal to Use Internet Gambling to Fund Health Care
13. Barney Frank Internet Gambling Bill Delayed Until Week of May 4th
14. Internet Gambling to be Discussed in House Financial Services Committee
15. Barney Frank’s Internet Gambling Bill Breaks 50 Co-Sponsors

One Response to “National Council on Problem Gambling Head Discusses Internet Research”

1. Stefan K Says:
   December 4th, 2009 at 5:57 am

   Whilst there may not be ‘confirmation’ that regulated gambling is more responsible, surely it goes without saying that someone in difficulty would have many more avenues which are easily turned to if they are not committing an ‘illegal’ act?

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