In an exclusive interview with the Columbus Telegram, former gambling regulator, John Smith, has called for better protection for young gamblers in the wake of a rise in underage gambling across the country.
Smith, who served as a regulator for over a decade, has seen firsthand the devastating impact that gambling can have on young people. He believes that the current regulations in place are not doing enough to protect vulnerable individuals, particularly those under the age of 18.
“I have seen too many young people get caught up in the world of gambling and end up in a spiral of debt and addiction,” Smith said. “It is our responsibility as regulators to do everything we can to prevent this from happening.”
One of the key issues, according to Smith, is the ease with which young people can access online gambling sites. With the rise of mobile technology, it has become increasingly difficult to monitor and regulate who is using these platforms.
“We need to do a better job of verifying the age of users and putting in place stricter controls to prevent underage gambling,” Smith explained. “It is simply not good enough to rely on self-regulation from the industry.”
Smith is calling for a collaborative approach to tackling this issue, with regulators, government bodies, and gambling operators working together to implement stronger protections for young gamblers. He believes that a combination of age verification technology, stricter advertising regulations, and increased funding for education and support services is needed to address the problem effectively.
“We cannot afford to ignore the growing number of young people who are falling victim to the dangers of gambling,” Smith warned. “It is time for action, and it is time for real change.”
In response to Smith’s comments, a spokesperson for the National Gambling Commission stated, “We take the issue of underage gambling very seriously and are constantly reviewing our regulations to ensure that we are doing everything we can to protect young people. We welcome input from industry experts like Mr. Smith and will consider his recommendations as part of our ongoing efforts to improve safeguards for young gamblers.”
As the debate continues to gain momentum, it is clear that the protection of young gamblers is a top priority for regulators and stakeholders in the industry. With the support of advocates like John Smith, there is hope that meaningful change can be made to prevent the harm caused by underage gambling.