Harrah’s tightens standards on problem gambling

John Wilen

Wednesday, April 14, 1999 | 10:30 a.m.

Harrah's Entertainment Inc. issued new company-wide standards to address problem and compulsive gambling, including a requirement that company casinos honor requests from problem gamblers who want themselves barred from gambling in Harrah's properties.

The new standards will require company casino properties to establish a responsible gambling committee, training programs, credit issuance policies, customer self-restriction programs, and policies on appropriate marketing practices.

Harrah's has long been a leader in addressing problem gambling. The company was the first major gaming company to even acknowledge that problem gambling is a legitimate issue.

"Even though studies have consistently proven the number of people with compulsive gaming problems is a very small percentage of the population, we feel it's important to be proactive and take a lead in responsible gaming," said Phil Satre, Harrah's chairman and chief executive.

Properties owned by Harrah's are expected to come into compliance with the new company standards by the end of the summer. The Rio and Showboat brands, acquired by Harrah's last year, will adopt the standards "over time," said a company statement.

Pat Martin, a Harrah's spokeswoman, explained that many Harrah's properties already have responsible gaming committees. The committees are made up of representatives from all casino departments, who share information on the status of the property's problem gaming programs, and are responsible for implementing problem gaming policies.

The new standards require more comprehensive employee training on helping people with gambling disorders get help, explaining how people can have themselves excluded from company casinos, and intervening in situations where people under age 21 are gambling.

Among the most radical of the new standards is one requiring Harrah's casinos to honor self-exclusion requests. A series of Nevada regulations that went into effect Jan. 1 only requires casinos to limit patron access to casino credit and check cashing privileges upon request. Harrah's standards go a step further, requiring company casinos to completely bar patrons from all casino play upon request, said Martin.