Implicating the Online Casinos
An upcoming class action lawsuit in Canada could have some pretty weighty
implications in the online casino gambling industry if the case awards the
gamblers the $3.5 billion in damages. Land and internet casinos frequently offer
players an “opt-out” option as a way to overcome addictive gambling habits.
Gamblers simply sign up for the programs, and at land gambling venues, the venue
takes a picture of the gambler and keeps that picture on file – the only problem
is that at land casinos, the opt-out provision is entirely ineffective. Online
gambling sites operate on a different level they are able to lock a player’s
profile, but at the same time, a recent case in the UK proves that
self-exclusion through internet gambling sites isn’t entirely effective either.
The Canadian class-action lawsuit involves several thousand land gamblers in the
Toronto area who claim that they were permitted to gamble at the land casino for
years after using the venue’s self-exclusion option. Responsible gambling
practices are a really huge concern at the land and online casinos, and the
self-exclusion policies are often a big selling point for the companies
remaining in operation. As problem gambling numbers increase all over the world,
and land and internet gambling venues consistently claim that self-exclusion is
a valid and socially responsible way for the companies to promote safe gambling
practices. But what about when these methods don’t work?
The case has not yet made it to the courts, but the online casino gambling
industry is certainly watching the case closely. Whatever the Canadian courts
rule on this case could have ripple effects throughout the international
internet gambling industry. |