Penn
National Gaming is committed to a policy of Responsible
Gaming at all of our gaming and racing facilities. While
we recognize that the overwhelming majority of customers
participate in our various forms of recreation and amenities
in a responsible and rational manner, there are a very
small proportion who do not.
To
protect them, and others affected by their behavior,
we have established a set of policies and guidelines,
modeled
after the American Gaming Association’s Code of
Conduct for Responsible Gaming (see www.americangaming.org).
These deal with issues such as problem gambling, underage
gambling,
improper use of alcohol, responsible Marketing and Advertising
and unattended minors.
Penn
National Gaming and its properties use a variety of approaches
to promote Responsible Gaming including employee
training programs, self-exclusion policies, written
procedures for recognizing and managing these issues,
use of outside
experts, customer education and awareness, and monitoring
and measuring compliance with results of these programs.
Recognizing
the problem
It is widely believed that 1-2% of all gamblers are compulsive
and that most experience varying degrees of depression.
Participating in games of chance becomes a self-medicating
distraction, providing only temporary relief from then
underlying problems associated with this type of compulsive
behavior.
How
do you know if you have a gambling problem?
- A compulsive
gambler is defined as someone whose gambling has caused
growing
and continuing problems in his or her life.
- Symptoms
include:
- Inability
to stop gambling
- Vows
to abstain
- Increasing
financial, work and/or relationship difficulties as a
result of gambling
What
can you do if you have a problem?
Admit that you have a progressive illness that won't go away by itself. Thousands
of people have received help through Gamblers Anonymous or other programs designed
specifically for people with gambling problems. For those seeking more information, or assistance with these
issues the following resources are offered:
The
National Council on Problem
Gambling
208 G Street NE
Washington, D.C. 20002
(202) 547 - 9204
National Help Line – (800) 522 - 4700
www.ncpgambling.org
|
Gamblers
Anonymous
International Service Office
PO Box 17173
Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 386-8789
www.gamblersanonymous.org |
Gam-Anon
International
Services Office, Inc.
PO Box 157
Whitestone, NY 11357-0157
(718) 352 – 1671
www.gam-anon.org |
The
Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and
Related Disorders at Harvard Medical School
www.divisiononaddictions.org |
National
Center for
Responsible Gaming
www.ncrg.org |
American
Gaming Association
www.americangaming.org |
|