Ralph Caputo Was One of the Sponsors of the New Casino Self-Exclusion Law
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed a new law that makes an admission of gambling addiction a voluntary matter if signing up for the self-exclusion list at casinos. The law makes it more likely a problem gambler takes the steps they need to quell their habit before it begins. The old law forced a person to admit they were a gambling addict before excluding themselves from a casino. The new law allows a person to ban themselves from gambling, without answering a question which is invasive to their privacy.
New Jersey Assemblyman Ralph Caputo is one of the lawmakers who sponsored the legislation. Caputo, who has long supported the gambling industry of the state, says gamblers had voiced concerns over the previous version of the law.
Admitting to Problem Gambling
Few people want to put their name on a government document stating they have an addiction of any kind. Even today, addiction carries a certain level of stigma. Beyond that, a gambler could never be for certain such information would appear in a background check. A person applying for a job, an apartment, or a home loan might find themselves excluded.
Even more likely, a person applying for a government job might find their admissions barring their way, because at one time they struggled with a gambling problem. Even years after a person received therapy and had their problem under control, the stigma might follow them. Under such circumstances, a player is less likely to sign up for the self-exclusion list. Only a few thousand people have signed up for the exclusion lists to this point. Chris Christie and Ralph Caputo helped make it where a gambler doesn’t have to make that admission, because it seems a matter of one’s personal privacy.
Ralph Caputo, making that point, said there is no good reason for the state to need an admission. Caputo, a Democrat from Essex, said, “If they are they can get help, but I don’t think it’s important for them to have to admit that kind of addiction. It could affect their professional life, their family life, and of course, their financial status.”
How an Exclusion List Works
A self-exclusion list in New Jersey has several components. A person can choose to exclude themselves from live casinos or online casinos, or both. A person can choose to exclude for one year, two years, five years, or a lifetime.
When this happens, a person’s name will appear on a list. When that person enters a casino and shows their ID, they will not be allowed to play by the casino management. If they try, they’ll be asked to leave by the casino management. The law stipulates the casino must do so, or else face stiff fines.
In an online casino setting, a person registering for a licensed New Jersey casino will not be able to register an account with their log-in information. The casino software, if working properly, should bar them from gaming at all.
Why Sign an Exclusion List
One might wonder why a self-exclusion list is needed at all. Problem gambling requires an act of will, so some residents might assume willpower alone should help a person stop. That fails to understand the nature of the addiction, though.
When a problem gambler begins to gamble, their adrenaline starts to pump. They get a thrill from the action. Once they start betting, they don’t want that thrill to end and so they simply keep playing–no matter the consequences. One should remember that conditions can be co-morbid, meaning a gambling addict might be an alcohol addict, too. Casinos offer complimentary drinks because it’s a business investment–not because they’re being nice. Once the liquor starts to flow, a person’s resolution might waver. One might imagine avoiding a casino altogether is the answer, but a person can log on to their computer and start playing in moments.
At the same time, a gambler can (in their quieter moments) fully realize they have a problem. That doesn’t mean they can stop. Therefore, a gambler signs up for the self-exclusion list to ban themselves when they’re fully in control of their senses. The new law signed by Chris Christie should give all of the same protections to gambling addicts and their families, while offering the protection of privacy from unnecessary intrusion by the state.
