The West Virginia Responsible Gaming and Research Act (RGRA) has passed the House Judiciary Committee.
The bill’s sponsor is Roger Hanshaw, the Speaker of the House while Representative Shawn Fluharty, who serves as the President of the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States, also supports the bill.
The Responsible Gaming and Research Act (RGRA) mandates that casino and sports betting operators in West Virginia provide anonymized data to West Virginia University. WVU will collaborate with the State Lottery Commission’s Department of Human Services to analyze the data. This partnership aims to enhance the understanding of problematic and addictive gambling tendencies. This will help with the drafting of future legislation geared towards promoting safer gambling practices.
Sheila Moran, Director of Marketing and Communication for behavioral health organization, First Choice Services, said of the Act:
“The last national major prevalence study was done in 1999. Now, think about how much gambling has expanded in since 1999. Quite a bit. So that’s the best statistics we have. There’s never been a prevalence study done here in West Virginia.
Most of the research that we have in the gambling addiction field is based on self-report, and we all know that sometimes people aren’t forthright in self-report. You know, they’ve done studies on things like alcohol consumption and physical activity and church attendance. And when they compare what people say they do versus what the data shows, there is a discrepancy. So no surprise. Same thing with gambling, especially problem gambling.
Therefore, I think it would be very interesting to have the actual data from how people are truly behaving online, how they’re spending money. We know that there are certain tells in the data that will indicate problem gambling, and we would really like to know how much of that we’re dealing with that would help us, help us know how to target our efforts.”
The RGRA also addresses privacy concerns for customers by ensuring that any data provided through the Act, will not be considered a public record. This means that it will not be available through Freedom of Information Act requests.
Now that the RGRA has moved out of the judiciary committee, it will now be considered by the West Virginia House. No set date has yet been confirmed for its first reading in the House.
Olivia has worked as an editor and writer for major brands across multiple niches. She now focuses on the iGaming and sports betting industries.
The Responsible Gaming Research Act was recently passed by the West Virginia House Committee, marking a significant step towards promoting responsible gaming practices in the state. The act aims to fund research and education programs that will help prevent problem gambling and provide support for individuals who may be struggling with addiction.
The passage of this act is a positive development for West Virginia, as it demonstrates a commitment to addressing the potential harms associated with gambling. By investing in research and education, the state can better understand the impact of gaming on individuals and communities, and develop strategies to mitigate any negative consequences.
One of the key components of the Responsible Gaming Research Act is the establishment of a fund that will support research projects focused on understanding problem gambling and developing effective prevention and treatment programs. This funding will enable researchers to study the prevalence of gambling addiction in West Virginia, identify risk factors, and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions.
In addition to funding research, the act also provides resources for education and outreach initiatives aimed at raising awareness about responsible gaming practices. These programs will help educate the public about the signs of problem gambling, provide information on where to seek help, and promote responsible gaming behaviors.
Overall, the passage of the Responsible Gaming Research Act is a positive step towards promoting responsible gaming practices in West Virginia. By investing in research and education, the state can better understand the impact of gambling and develop strategies to support individuals who may be at risk of developing a gambling addiction. This act demonstrates a commitment to protecting the well-being of residents and ensuring that gaming remains a safe and enjoyable activity for all.
