New Report Show That Michigan Could Improve Responsible Gambling Measures

According to a new report by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), Michigan is one of four US iGaming markets where responsible gambling standards need improvement. 

In 2023, seven US states have legalized online casino gaming in some form: Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

According to the report created by the NCPG, Michigan, Nevada, Delaware, and West Virginia, are lacking adequate responsible gambling measures. 

In the report, it details that only publicly available information was used for the study. “It should be noted that only publicly available laws, regulations, and standards are included in this analysis. . .”

“This report does not reflect any additional regulatory requirements or guidelines that may be included in non-public documents, such as operator internal controls, even though operators are in some cases formally obliged to comply with such controls.”

State by State Breakdown

The NCPG reviewed over 50 different points to determine the state ranking. Each of those criteria fits into one of the nine different sections reviewed: 

• Policy
• Staff training
• Supporting informed decision-making by players
• Assisting players
• Self-exclusion
• Advertising and promotion
• Game and website features
• Research
• Payments 

Overall, Michigan ranked 4th on the list. Out of the 59 different criteria, Michigan met just 36. Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania all scored 46/59, while West Virginia, Delaware, and Nevada scored 30, 29, and 28, respectively. 

About the NCPG

The National Council on Problem Gambling is the leading advocate for programs and services to assist problem gamblers and their families in the US. The organization was founded back in 1972 and remains non-partisan, non-profit, and neutral on legalized gambling to this day. 

“It is clear that some who gamble online will develop problems and that these problems are serious. The most ethical and cost-effective response to gambling addiction issues raised by internet gambling is a comprehensive public health strategy that includes prevention, education, treatment, and research services. Responsible gambling standards are an important aspect of this approach,” said the NCPG. “NCPG recommends every state with iGaming or those looking to legalize iGaming adopt the IRGS standards to best protect consumers from the negative consequences of gambling.”

Where Could Michigan Improve?

The most critical areas where the NCPG believes Michigan could make improvements include Policy, Staff Training, Advertising and promotion, and Research. 

At the policy level, the NCPG gave credit to Michigan for two of the four criteria. Michigan received mention for its “Policy Commitment To Responsible Gambling” and “Support for Societal Costs.” The two areas where the NCPG believes Michigan could improve are its “Annual Evaluation and Progress Reporting” and “Strategy for Responsible Gambling.”

Details covering Michigan’s staff training requirements for casino employees were sparse, leading the NCPG to suggest that the state take further action in two key areas: “Corporate Policy” and “Annual Training.”

Another section where Michigan bettors could see improvement is in advertising. Out of the five criteria, Michigan made the mark for just one: “Accessible Complaints And Disputes Process.” The only state to score as low as Michigan in this area was West Virginia. 

Lastly, the NCPG believes that Michigan state operators could improve research across the industry. Michigan missed both criteria (Transparency Of Play Data For Research and Evaluation Through Research Program) for this section. Only two states, NJ and PA, met the criteria for this section.

Mac Daniel is a writer for PlayOnlineCasino and PlayOnlineSportsBetting. He has experience writing about a wide variety of topics, including healthcare, tourism, non-profit organizations, and most recently casino and sportsbetting news. To check out more of his work, visit: playonlinemichigan.com