Online Solution for Addicted Gamblers

August 16th, 2010 | Add a Comment

Approximately one million Californians are addicted to gambling. From cardrooms and casinos, to the California Lottery, California residents are increasing their gambling habits. Attorney General Jerry Bown has created an online solution for addicted gamblers.

Brown’s Self Exclusion Program allows addicted gamblers to voluntarily exclude themselves from the state’s 90 licensed cardrooms. Gamblers can sign-up to the list at ag.ca.gov/gambling/exclusion_self.php. The profiles of those on the list will be available on a database accessible for the licensed cardrooms. Cardroom security can then run a scan on the customer’s name, driver’s license, or zip code to see if he or she is enlisted to be banned from the room. If the gambler has selected to be banned from the room, the customer is escorted from the cardroom and any winnings they make are confiscated and given to problem gambling prevention training.

Currently, there are 1,009 people on the Self Exclusion Program list. California Council on Problem Gambling had 5,009 calls on its crisis hotline in 2009. Most callers suffered from gambling-related personal debt and were spending $28,647 on average on their compulsion.