You have probably noticed that the online US casino market is growing fast. What you probably don’t know, however, is just how rapidly this is happening. According to the American Gaming Association, online wagering already accounts for 15% of overall gambling revenue, despite being relatively new. This number is likely to increase dramatically over the coming years.
This is partially due to many US states legalizing both online gambling and sports betting in the past year. This change of law has opened the door to huge revenues in the US and is a fun new hobby for many Americans. However, for some players, it isn’t all good news. The ease of access to online casinos has caused huge financial problems for those struggling with gambling addiction.
The good news is that the number of problem gamblers in the USA is low at around 1% of the adult population, and the large majority of people in the US gamble for enjoyment. This could change, however, if we don’t get responsible gambling right while the market is still in its infancy.
Because of the market growth, and with it, the potential issues with gambling addiction, casino operators now realize that they need effective responsible gambling strategies. Such initiatives are designed to reduce the likelihood of gambling addiction and help those already suffering.
But the lack of research available is seriously hampering efforts. The truth is, The United States has very little research about online gambling addiction and player habits. Although plenty has been done about land-based casinos, the online platform is an entirely different beast.
We spoke to Christine Reilly, The Senior Research Director at The ICRG (International Center for Responsible Gaming), and asked her thoughts about the lack of gambling addiction research. She said:
“There is very little research on responsible gambling and we really need to increase it. Specifically, we need to conduct more research on self-exclusion and responsible gambling messaging. A lot of the gambling addiction questionnaires are too long and it means that people are less likely to fill them in.”
Christine believes that the key to getting a grip on gambling addiction is to first understand the behaviors of online gamblers by using real data. Surveys have been used in the past but results have shown that the truth is often very different from the user responses. For example, the amount spent or number of bets placed is often significantly higher than the user reports.
This could simply be down to forgetting, or it could be something more sinister like denial. It’s because of this that gambling researchers, like Christine, need access to operator data to analyze behaviors and gain a true understanding of US gambling habits. But sadly, this hasn’t happened yet, and it puts players at risk.
So why hasn’t this happened yet? The answer is time and funding.
“In the USA, we don’t have a lot of research money and funding available for responsible gambling. There’s huge funding for drug and alcohol addiction but very little for gambling.” Christine said.
Does this mean that gambling addiction doesn’t deserve to be treated with the same urgency as other addictions? No, it doesn’t. But, unlike other addictions that have been around for many years, gambling is a new problem, and we know very little about it in The United States.
As the market continues to boom, addressing gambling addiction and putting safeguards in place is going to become unavoidable. Christine explained that the messaging is the most important thing when it comes to encouraging responsible gambling.
Some players don’t even know what it is, and some are resistant to the tools available because they feel that in using them, they are admitting a problem. When in fact, most of these tools are in place for prevention and should be used by everybody.
So why is the lack of responsible gambling research a threat to the US online casino market? Because without the research, we can’t create the tools and messages required to help prevent and treat problem gambling amongst Americans. And, without it, the problem could quickly spiral out of control. If the number of gambling addicts begins to multiply in relation to the number of online casinos launching, then the US would have a real problem.
It could result in tough regulation and even enforced deposit limits across the country, similar to what we have seen in places like Sweden. Without such research, a lucrative market could become the exact opposite.
If the online casino industry wants any chance of success seen in other countries, it all begins with understanding the player and their needs. Without this information, we don’t know how to help with addiction, and the consequences could stop the growth of the market long before it reaches its potential.
Time2play’s responsible gambling interview series
Time2play’s vision is to become the beacon of safe gambling. In our role as an affiliate, we aim to contribute as much as we can to make this space the best it can be for users.
As affiliates, we also know we have a lot to learn before we’re able to reach that goal. This interview is part of a series of interviews we’re conducting with key players in the industry. These individuals are leading the fight for safe, responsible gambling. It’s our responsibility to learn from them to ensure our site corresponds with the values they espouse.
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