Know your player rights
Understanding your rights as a player is integral to avoiding misunderstandings and disputes, but can also protect you from unfair practices.
Time2play reporters explain player rights and obligations in detail, and what to do if they have been breached.
Editor's note
The laws and regulations stated in this article are all accurate as of the time of writing.
The information in this article is a statement of current US online gambling player rights, and should not be considered as legal advice. For legal advice, seek out a US attorney practicing in your jurisdiction.
What are your player rights?
Every punter has a right to a fair game, but there’s more to it. Gambling sites, including online casinos and sportsbooks, are required to adhere to the rights set and enforced by regulatory bodies. These rights include:
Transparency and fairness
To ensure transparency for the players, operators must have easily accessible and detailed terms and conditions. Your rights to information access cover gameplay requirements, rules, odds, payouts, and bet limits, which must be clearly displayed. Game fairness is ensured through Random Number Generator (RNG) auditing by third-party agencies, such as eCOGRA and iTech Labs.
Player privacy and confidentiality
Due diligence is to be carried out when handling your personal and financial information, and the privacy policy is to be clearly laid out. Gambling operators must use secure SSL encryption to protect your data and partner with reputable payment providers that do the same. For your safety, identity and source-of-funds checks are carried out regularly, beginning with the post-registration Know Your Customer process.
Segregation of player funds
Your funds belong to you, not to the casino or sportsbook. Player funds are segregated from the casino’s or sportsbook’s operating budget and remain separately identifiable. This protects player assets if the establishment faces financial difficulties or bankruptcy.
Responsible play
Sites need to aid players in gambling responsibly by providing the necessary tools, such as self-exclusion, personal limits, and access or links to resources for further assistance. The operator is also responsible for carrying out player-activity checks and monitoring for signs of problem behavior.
Advertising regulations
Advertising regulations vary by state, but there are general rules to be followed. These include a prohibition on targeting minors and other vulnerable groups, false, deceptive, or misleading claims, and displaying sports-pool participants like players, coaches, and league employees. Ads must clearly state problem-gambling hotlines, and all promotional bonus terms and conditions should be clearly displayed.
Operational licensing
Online gambling operators must have a valid gambling license from your jurisdiction’s regulatory body, with licensing information clearly displayed on the website. Licensing ensures compliance with regulations and adherence to responsible-gambling practices, protecting you from harm. If you can’t verify an operator’s license, you have the right to request confirmation through customer support and regulatory authorities.
Your obligations as a player
When you engage in gambling activities, agreeing to the terms and conditions on your platform of choice is a legal agreement, which outlines your rights as well as obligations as a player. Adhering to the obligations below ensures a safe, responsible, and enjoyable betting experience.
No underage gambling
Casinos and sportsbooks can’t blatantly break state gambling laws, and that includes the age limit. Operators do their due diligence to make sure that there are no underage players, and as a player, it is your obligation to not engage in gambling activities if you are not of legal age to do so. The minimum legal gambling age varies by state.
Game and house rules
Take the time to familiarize yourself with game and house rules, as they can vary from one operator to the next. The house edge, for example, can differ depending on table rules, but also on the strategy employed by the player. You may even encounter different RTPs, features, and bet types across platforms. The more informed you are, the more responsible your decisions will be.
No unethical, dishonest, or exploitative behavior
Actions and behaviors that circumvent, disrupt, or violate the operator’s rules constitute a breach of contract. Multi-accounting, chip dumping, and arbitrage betting, for example, guarantee voiding of winnings and a ban to boot. Make sure to read the fine print — and play by the rules.
Who to contact to raise a complaint or query
If your players’ rights have been breached, there are two actions you can take.
- Contact the site’s customer support. Technical issues and misunderstandings of game rules are commonplace and can be resolved quickly via the operator’s customer support.
- Contact regulatory authorities. A violation of your rights may warrant escalation to the relevant bodies, such as licensing authorities and responsible-gambling organizations. These institutions are able to enforce rulings, audit operators, and provide further assistance in mediating your dispute.
Below are contact details for regulatory bodies by state:
Sources
- https://www.ncpgambling.org/responsible-gambling/
- https://www.americangaming.org/resources/responsible-gaming-regulations-and-statutes-guide/
- https://www.fdic.gov/news/financial-institution-letters/2010/fil10035a.pdf
- https://www.nagra.org/State-and-Province-Gaming-Regulatory-Agencies
