Casino Self-Ban Bill Advances in New Jersey Assembly

A casino self-ban bill advanced in the New Jersey Assembly with a unanimous 77-0 vote on Thursday. If the bill became a law, New Jersey gamblers who signed up for a voluntary self-exclusion list would not have to admit they are a problem gambler to do so.

Self-exclusion lists are popular in jurisdictions around the globe in which gambling is licensed and regulated in the state. When a player signs up for such a listing, they can have themselves banned from either land-based casino gambling or online gaming altogether. Such bans might last 1 year, 2 years, or 5 years.

Self-Exclusion Avoids Problem Gambling

The idea behind self-exclusion lists is it helps a gambler circumvent the compulsive behavior behind problem gambling. Many gaming addicts describe a compulsion to keep gambling once they start, chasing losses in the hopes of hitting it big and winning back all they lost–and then some. Because the odds are weighted against them, this usually gets them in worst financial trouble. Self-exclusion allows the player to walk away from the table before they ever start, when their adrenaline has not started flowing and while they are still thinking rationally.

The problem with many volunary self-exclusion lists is a requirement by some of them for the gambler to admit they have an addictive gambling problem. Such a provision does not just pose a difficult psychological hurdle for such players. Many gamblers are afraid having such an admission on record could be used against them in the future, either in court cases or on job searches.

Why Players Might Not Sign Up

For this reason, many gamblers who might want to place themselves on a self-ban list refuse to do so. If the bill currently in the New Jersey Assembly passes, then these people would not need to worry whether their inclusion could be used against them later on.

Assemblyman Troy Singleton, a Burlington County Democrat, said the new law would give addicts one more tool for battling their problems and saving their families. “This is simply another option for those who want to exclude themselves from New Jersey’s gaming facilities, but don’t want to concede a problem on an official document they fear may come back to haunt them down the road.”

Removing the Stigma from Self-Banning

Donald Weinbaum of the Council on Compulsive Gambling says the law would take some of the stigma offer the list. Though the current law leaves the 1,526 New Jersey citizens who have already signed up for an exclusion list anonymous, the fact is a record exists in which they admitted to gambling addiction.

With the self-ban bill in place, no such admissions ever needs to happen again. Troy Singleton added, “Gambling addiction is a disease, and if this can help some people overcome their problem, it’s a step in the right direction.”

To exclude oneself from Atlantic City casino gambling or online gambling in New Jersey, a player must apply in person at the Division of Gaming Enforcemet in either Trenton or Atlantic City. If a sport better wants to excluse himself or herself from pari-mutuel betting on the state’s horse racing, the player must apply at the New Jersey Racing Commission in Trenton. Alternately, the gambler can apply at Race Commission offices at any horsetrack in the state.

Andre Bouchard Appointed to Delaware State Chancery Court

Governor Jack Markell has appointed Andre Bouchard as a judge in the Delaware State Chancery Court, replacing Leo Stine. As a lawyer, Andre Bouchard represented several major clients, including the Disney Corporation, but he is also known for leading Delaware Governor Markell’s push to legalize sports gambling in the state, which would allow Delaware to compete against Las Vegas casino sports books.

Delaware’s Chancery Court is the most active and advanced in the United States, and thus the world. Delaware is the corporate home to more than half of America’s corporation and to 63% of its Fortune 500 companies. The reason many relocate to Delaware is the efficient and fair chancery court, which handles most of the disputes between corporations in the United States. Chancery Court decisions go immediately to the Delaware Supreme Court.

Bouchard’s Legal Fight for Delaware Sports Betting

In 2008, Delaware passed a law that would have allowed Las Vegas style sports gambling in the state. In 2009, a federal appeals court rejected Delaware’s plan to introduce single-game sports betting. Bouchard argued that such betting would not affect sports leagues.

In May 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the federal appeals court decision, rejecting Delaware’s appeal. The final decision was Delaware could only permit one sort of sports wager: parlay bets on the outcome of 3 or more NFL games.

Having a pro-gambling lawyer sitting the bench in Delaware should be seen as a small gain for the gambling industry. Delaware and Nevada are set to move forward with a joint iPoker gaming compact, hoping to build a multistate cartel of online poker operators. Among his other former clients are Disney Corporation, Bloomberg News, Oracle Corps, and Prime Hospitality Group Corp.