Massachusetts is one of the states that will have its gambling sector expanded but authorities raised the question about the gambling addiction problems, which are likely to arise. One of the suggestions for dealing with them was a limit to be set and players to be supposed to stick to it and get a reward for resisting the temptation to continue wagering.
Meanwhile, it was officially announced that Wynn Resorts, Penn National Gaming and MGM Resorts are the companies allowed to build their casino venues on the territory of Massachusetts. Managers of those companies strongly disagreed with the proposal and said that such a technique for dealing with gambling addiction has not been successful anywhere in the world.
As a matter of fact, countries such as Norway, Singapore, Canada and New Zealand have adopted such a technique and authorities believed that they have found the balance between allowing the usage of gambling products and limiting their negative influence on the local communities. Massachusetts was said to the first state to implement an approach of this kind.
The chairman of the Gaming Commission said that the option, players will be provided with, resembles calorie counting and it would be extremely beneficial to them.
He also added that setting these limits is a wise decision as it would prevent further troubles, concerning gambling addiction.
However, the proposal met the fierce opposition of the casino executives who disapproved of regulators’ intentions. They also said that they have done a considerable research and concluded that this technique doesn’t work.
A non – profit organization, based in D.C., supported the proposal of the Gaming Commission of Massachusetts. A representative said that gambling machines are designed with the aim of making players lose as much money as possible. The longer they play the more money they are supposed to lose while hoping for winning a life-changing jackpot.
MGM is the company that is supposed to start a significant project, estimated to cost $800 million and its vice president commented that countries that implemented the limitations have finally realised that they are not as efficient as expected.
Penn National Gaming is the company that is supposed to establish slots parlor in the vicinity of Plainville and company’s representative said that managers are quite concerned about the lack of time. The new system will be launched in the middle of 2015 and they are worried that they are not allowed enough time to adapt to the new requirements.
Although the Gaming Commission did not take a decision yesterday, representatives of the companies reminded that they are going to make huge investments into establishment of new casino venues and restricting players from participating in gambling activities would have an absolutely disastrous effect as their facilities will become less competitive as.
Robert DeSalvio, the person, responsible for the establishment of a casino in Everett, said that the future of the gambling industry in the state depends on the decision of the Gaming Commission. If they implement the limiting technique, players might choose another state where they can freely play without being restricted.
Another requirement, companies disapproved of, was that they would be obliged to provide customers who stick to their limit, with an incentive. DeSalvio said that the worst favour one could do to a player who has a gambling problem was to provide them with an incentive.
