Massachusetts tests casino tool meant to avert gambling addiction
BOSTON — Massachusetts is set to launch this week a first-in-the-nation system allowing slot players to limit their bets, following months of planning and some pushback from the gambling industry.
The goal is to prevent casual players from going down the destructive path of addiction, said Marlene Warner, executive director of the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling, which is helping administer the new feature.
The “Play My Way” system is being piloted at Plainridge Park, the slots parlor and harness racing track in Plainville and the only operating casino in Massachusetts so far.
Massachusetts casino operators and the American Gaming Association initially voiced reservations about the planned system, arguing such bet limiting or “play management” programs have not proved effective in Australia, Canada, Norway, Sweden and other countries where they’ve been tried.
“Any responsible gaming tool should be targeted to assist the small minority of players that may confront irresponsible play without harming the entertainment experience for nearly all players who enjoy our entertainment experience responsibly,” he said.