Massachusetts Regulator Sounds Alarm Over Unchecked Growth in US Gambling Industry

The chair of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC), Jordan Maynard has recently raised concerns over the gambling industry's recent boom, calling the industry a “highway without speedThere are occasions when we here at ReadyBetGo want to bring you interesting facts about the gambling industry  When something catches our eye, we will publish it for your enjoyment. 
  limits” in which they also suggest that there is an inadequate level of consistent regulatory oversight at a national level.

This lack of proper regulation has led to the rise of players using alternatives to gamble. A great example of this is Maryland online casinos, where players took to offshore and other means to continue playing their favorite games.

Maynard has also suggested that the unregulated expansion is causing growing concerns around the potential harm to not only individuals but also the general public.

He was recently interviewed by The Gurdian, where he has spoke about the growing industry, saying, “When I think about the industry right now, I see a highway without speed limits, cars without seatbelt dingers,”

He followed on to say how his concerns wasn’t focused on the needs of businesses, however, he was more concerned about players, saying “I’m not thinking about big business … I’m thinking about: how does this affect the patrons and the citizens of Massachusetts?”

Unlike other countries where the entire country has one single rule around gambling, the US  regulates gambling per individual state, causing major inconsistencies and issues with regulatory oversight.

It’s not just gambling rules that vary across the states, either. Advertising rules are also widely different across the states, which is another area in which Maynard heavily criticizes.

In some states, advertising which could be considered targeted at children is banned, while in others, the focus is on banning advertising which makes gambling look like a means to raise your income. While other states have almost no advertising bans or regulations at all.

States such as Tennessee not only require advertisers to submit their marketing material for review, but they have also banned any marketing material which includes celebrity endorsements in an attempt to control the gambling boom.

While there are regulations set out across the country, and each state has its own rules and regulations on gambling, there are plenty of nationwide tools designed to help players make sure they have help if needed.

These tools can range anywhere from help hotlines, all the way to self-exclusion tools, to help keep gambling addiction in check. Many states also have their own tools in place, for example, in Connecticut, operators must implement cool-off periods.