Thorny issues plague plan for AC casinos’ self-exclusion list

John Curran

Friday, June 8, 2001 | 10:50 a.m.

ATLANTIC CITY -- A debate is raging over a new state law letting compulsive gamblers ban themselves from casinos, with officials discussing how to enforce the law without neglecting privacy concerns.

At a public hearing Thursday, casino operators and the head of the Council on Compulsive Gambling offered suggestions on how the law should be implemented, sending regulators back to the drawing board.

"We've got a lot of work to do," said James Hurley, chairman of the state Casino Control Commission.

Under the law, compulsive gamblers who don't trust themselves to stay away from casinos would be able to register with the state, providing personal information and a photograph so that casinos could keep them out. Casinos would also have to stop sending promotional materials, giving complimentary gifts or extending credit to those who register.

The law was approved by the state Legislature in March and signed into law by acting Gov. Donald DiFrancesco. But it is up to the Casino Control Commission to determine the rules governing enforcement.

One of the central points of debate concerns the confidentiality of information about people on the exclusion list.

Proposed rules say names on the list would be given to casinos but not released publicly, and casinos would have to keep information about excluded gamblers confidential.

But lawyers representing casinos said the information should be shared. For example, if an excluded gambler is ejected from a casino, officials there could call neighboring casinos to warn them that the person might be coming in, said Nicholas Moles, attorney for the Tropicana Casino and Resort.

Also under dispute is how long a gambler would remain on the list. A proposed rule says anyone registering could be removed from the list after one year.

Edward Looney, executive director of the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, said the minimum ban should be five years. But Casino Control Commissioner Diane LeGreide suggested a ban that long could discourage people from signing up.

Participants at Thursday's hearing debated whether people who register should be banned from the premises of casino hotels, or just barred from placing bets. Moles suggested a total ban, but a recovering gambler who works in a casino said that would make it impossible for casino employees who have gambling problems to sign up.

Public comments on the proposed rules are being accepted through June 20. Hurley said he didn't know when the program would take effect.