1. How do I join PEER?
2. Can any gaming facility join PEER?
3. Why should I join PEER? What sets it apart from other programs?
4. How much does PEER cost?
5. Does PEER have specific elements geared toward tribal gaming facilities?
6. Is the EMERGE employee training program easy enough for all of my employees to use?
7. If an employee doesn’t pass the EMERGE quiz, can they take it again?
8. Is it difficult to implement PEER programs and responsible gaming initiatives?
9. What happens if my facility receives a “bad grade” on the casino Report Card?
10. How can a PEER Ambassador help me?
11. How frequently are the resources and materials in the PEER program updated to reflect the latest research out there?
12. Who runs PEER?

1. How do I join PEER?
Joining PEER is easy. The first step is to contact us. For commercial casinos, contact Anne Evans at (202) 552-2686. For tribal gaming facilities, contact Jana McKeag at (703) 684-1203/Jmgop@aol.com or Kate Spilde Contreras at (760) 533-9387/kates@ucr.edu. We will then assess your individual needs and provide additional information on the program and its costs.

2. Can any gaming facility join PEER?
Yes. PEER program membership is open to any individual gaming enterprise, gaming equipment manufacturer or tribal government. In keeping with its mission to advance education about responsible gaming, the NCRG is seeking to provide access to cutting-edge tools and training materials on responsible gaming to a very wide audience.

3. Why should I join PEER? What sets it apart from other programs?
Most gaming jurisdictions, including tribal governments, now require casinos to have some type of responsible gaming program in place. PEER can help you to develop and implement programs that not only meet, but surpass the minimum requirements in your jurisdiction. Joining PEER is also an opportunity to access the most respected resources available in responsible gaming.

PEER is different from other programs for a number of reasons:

• It was developed based on the NCRG Code of Conduct for Responsible Gaming, one of the world’s most respected and comprehensive responsible gaming programs.
• Many of the tools that the PEER program provides are based on the latest research on gambling disorders, including research conducted by Harvard Medical School.
• The PEER program is designed to be easily adaptable and can be customized to meet the needs of any casino or gaming facility, large or small. PEER also provides employee training materials in English and Spanish.
• It demonstrates accountability by providing access to a casino “Report Card” showing regulators, tribal governments and the community that your facility meets and exceeds the highest standards for responsible gaming programs. You will also receive the PEER program seal to display at your facility, identifying your organization as having made a commitment to responsible gaming.
• Joining PEER gives you access to EMERGE, the premier online employee training program developed by addiction specialists at Harvard Medical School.  Because of its Web-based design, the program is available 24/7. Employees can work at their own pace, and large numbers of employees can train at the same time, making it a very economical way to meet your training requirements.

4. How much does PEER cost?
The cost of PEER is determined on a sliding scale based on the size of your gaming facility. Membership in the PEER program automatically gives core gaming employees access to EMERGE, while discounted rates will be offered for additional employees. Additional charges will be incurred for in-depth customization of the EMERGE training program and/or in-person consultation with a PEER Program Ambassador. Since the program is administered through the NCRG, a non-profit organization, your membership fees will be used to fund research and responsible gaming outreach.

5. Does PEER have specific elements geared toward tribal gaming facilities?
PEER was designed to be easily customized to fit the needs of different gaming facilities. The NCRG has PEER Ambassadors who are familiar with the needs of tribal gaming operations and who would work with each tribal organization to adapt the program in a way that meets your individual goals. In addition, tribal history, government and regulation can be added to the employee education materials to supplement the responsible gaming content. The NCRG also provides access to information such as a “report card” to document tribal responsible gaming activities and impact; data to counter allegations that tribal gaming is under regulated; and other tools to help position tribal gaming enterprises as solid corporate citizens.

6. Is the EMERGE employee training program easy enough for all of my employees to use?
The EMERGE interactive training program was specifically designed to be easy-to-use at all levels. Although it was developed by addiction specialists at Harvard Medical School, all of the text and narration is appropriate for a sixth- to eighth-grade reading level. It is available online 24/7 and allows employees to move through the “chapters” at their own pace, to account for different needs.

The EMERGE program is accessible to anyone with access to a computer and a high-speed internet connection. Photos, graphics, audio and video accompany the text to make the training an engaging learning experience. It has written and narrated step-by-step instructions, and prompts the participant when and where to click to get to the next page. The participant simply clicks through the pages of the “chapter” and then takes a quiz on what they just learned. The program automatically tracks employee participation and test results.

7. If an employee doesn’t pass the EMERGE quiz, can they take it again?
Yes, employees can take the quiz as many times as necessary to pass, and the NCRG strongly encourages organizations to require that employees pass the test so that they can receive a certificate of completion. The certificate indicates the course was approved by the American Academy of Health Care Providers in the Addictive Disorders, an independent agency that promotes the highest standard of addiction education.

8. Is it difficult to implement PEER programs and responsible gaming initiatives?
No.  That is precisely why the NCRG created PEER – to provide step-by-step guidance and access to resources that will streamline the process of setting up a world-class responsible gaming program. Joining PEER ensures that your facility will have access to best practices for creating, implementing and maintaining your program. You will also have access to pre-prepared collateral materials such as brochures and signage about responsible gaming, the odds of casino games, and unattended minors. Other materials will assist you in training employees on how to prevent underage gambling and how to set up a self-exclusion program. These are but some of the resources available under the PEER program. And if you should need extra help, the NCRG’s PEER Ambassadors are at your disposal to work one-on-one with you.

9. What happens if my facility receives a “bad grade” on the casino Report Card?
The point of joining PEER is so that the NCRG can help you to achieve a “good grade” on your casino Report Card. Membership in the PEER program provides your organization with full access to the PEER Resource Guide, a blueprint for implementing the provisions of the NCRG Code of Conduct. If additional assistance is needed, you will have access to our PEER Ambassadors, who can work with you one-on-one to walk you through the necessary steps toward reaching your responsible gaming goals. With all these resources, you will be capable of implementing a responsible gaming program that will earn you a good grade.

10. How can a PEER Ambassador help me?
If you require additional hands-on assistance, a trained PEER Ambassador will be available by phone or e-mail, or can come to your property to work directly you’re your team to develop and implement a program tailored to the needs of your gaming facility, its employees and customers. The PEER Ambassador can also help troubleshoot any problems you may be having, provide step-by-step guidance in implementing a program and answer any questions you may have.

11. How frequently are the resources and materials in the PEER program updated to reflect the latest research out there?
The NCRG monitors the latest research and trends in responsible gaming on an ongoing basis, so materials will be updated whenever the available information dictates as such.  Additionally, the NCRG constantly works to develop new materials and resources aimed at educating employees and the public about responsible gaming issues, and these materials also will be added to the PEER resource guide as appropriate.

12. Who runs PEER?
PEER is run by the National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG). Founded in 1996 as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, the NCRG’s mission is to help individuals and families affected by gambling disorders by supporting the finest peer-reviewed, scientific research into pathological and youth gambling; encouraging the application of new research findings to improve prevention, diagnostic, intervention and treatment strategies; and advancing public education about responsible gaming.

The NCRG is the only national organization exclusively devoted to funding research that helps increase understanding of pathological and youth gambling and find effective methods of treatment for the disorder. Research funding is distributed through the Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders, a program of the Division on Addictions at Cambridge Health Alliance, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School.