I also disagree that gambling is a more serious addiction than others, quite the opposite.
People get addicted to everything from alcohol and nicotine to other drugs including steroids to adrenalin and extreme sports and jogging as well as sugar and carbs and caffeine and what have you.
Most of these can cause loss of life – that of the addict or that of others, violence toward self or others and physical deterioration.
Gambling – like they say, it’s only money. This is not to minimize the impact of losing all your money and the repercussions it may have in your family, I am just saying gambling is not deadly and doesn’t make you violent or sick. It is a mental addiction, not a physical one. Most addictions are both. Gambling is hence easier to cure.
That said, I agree with the rest of your post.
I feel that a central body, similar to eCOGRA or the like, should be asked to set up a register where gambling addicts could register themselves for exclusion from all forms of online gambling. All online casinos would have to reference this list, like a credit check, before opening any new customer accounts
This would go a long way to raise the credibility of the industry.
At this time, gambling addicts and parents can use http://www.gamblock.com/ to block access to gambling related items on their computer.