Australia isn’t the only country that is exploring the possibility of allowing players to set betting limits on their poker machines. Several states across America are also considering pre-commitment technology, including Massachusetts. This week, Massachusetts’ state Gaming Commission agreed to start a pilot program at selected clubs across Boston.
It will be the first program of its kind in America, offering players the ability to set a limit on how much money to wager before they begin playing pokies. Stephen Crosby, Chair of the Gaming Commission, has noted that many other states across the country are reluctant to consider this type of program.
According to MassLive, the Gaming Commission has enacted the program because it has the responsibility to reduce the negative consequences of casino gambling in Massachusetts. It was charged with this duty in 2011, when the state expanded it gambling law. "The law makes this a high priority, keep problem gambling to the barest possible minimum”, Crosby says. “We're following the law and trying to do that”.
The pre-commitment technology that will be tested is being called a ‘play management tool’. The Gaming Commission hopes that work on the software will be finished by June 2015. It may be included a feature on players’ loyalty cards, in order to ensure that it is not intrusive for players who are not at-risk.
"We've been very, very careful to make sure that it doesn't get in the way of the positive experience for the 90 percent or so of people who gamble without any risk at all, and that was a very high priority to the operators," Crosby said. The testing period could run for two years in order to gather enough data to determine whether or not pre-commitment is an effective tool in curbing problem gambling rates across the state.
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