Sightline Payments is Taking a Leadership Position in Excluding Compulsive Gamblers
Promoting responsible gaming is part of the principles and culture that govern the way we do business at Sightline Payments. Our founders have a long-standing and continuing commitment to responsible gaming and cash access services- it’s something we take great pride in.
Problem gambling is gambling behavior which causes disruptions in any major area of life: psychological, physical, social or vocational. The term “Problem Gambling” includes, but is not limited to, the condition known as “Pathological”, or “Compulsive” Gambling, a progressive addiction characterized by increasing preoccupation with gambling, a need to bet more money more frequently, restlessness or irritability when attempting to stop, “chasing” losses, and loss of control manifested by continuation of the gambling behavior in spite of mounting, serious, negative consequences. The Mission of the National Council on Problem Gambling is to increase public awareness of pathological gambling, ensure the widespread availability of treatment for problem gamblers and their families, and to encourage research and programs for prevention and education.
Sightline Payments Message is Clear
We want everyone who uses our cash access services at our casinos to use for the right reasons – to simply enjoy their gaming entertainment and to be responsible with their hard earned money. We believe all cash access service providers involved in gaming have an obligation to promote responsible cash access in casinos.
For nearly two decades, Kirk Sanford Sightline Payments Founder and Chief Executive Officer has been commited to reponsible gaming initiatives. In 1995, Mr. Sanford played a leadership role that was unprecendented by a payments company by implementing S.T.E.P (Self Transaction Exclusion Program), the casino cash access industry’s first contribution to amelioration of problem gambling by establishing a partnership with the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) which included a compulsive gambling hotline, self exclusion programs for compulsive gamblers, and denial of access to EBT (welfare) recipients from getting cash in casinos.
Sightline Payments will continue to be a major advocate for promoting responsible cash access transactions in casinos. We have implemented G.A.I.N (Gambling Addiction Intervention Network) in conjunction with Certegy Check Services for the administration of various self-help programs whereby a casino customer can voluntarily request denial of credit and debit card cash advances and check cashing privileges.
Additionally, Sightline Payments will work with the National Council on Problem Gambling, Inc., its local councils, and other service agencies in our markets on a continuing basis to promote a better understanding of responsible gaming and underage gambling.
Sightline Payments LLC recognizes that the overwhelming majority of casino customers participate in various forms of cash access in a responsible and rational manner, there are however, a very small proportion of individuals that do not. It is those that we dedicated this blog and to try to protect them, and others affected by their behavior, by establishing programs such as G.A.I.N.
The National Council on Problem Gambling is the national advocate for programs and services to assist problem gamblers and their families. The mission of the NCPG is to increase public awareness of pathological gambling, ensure the widespread availability of treatment for problem gamblers and their families, and to encourage research and programs for prevention and education.
The National Council is neither for nor against legalized gambling. Our primary concern is to help problem gamblers and their families.
The NCPG was conceived as the national representative of the problem gambling field and is organized with 3 classes of members: state affiliate, corporate and individual. The NCPG concentrates efforts on the national level, while the state affiliates work at the state and local level.
Contact Information: ksanford@sightlinepayments.com
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