New technologies offer the opportunity to develop world class player protections across our industry.
Wes Himes
Executive Director, Standards and Innovation, Betting and Gaming Council

SAFER GAMBLING – PLAYER PROTECTION

Protecting and empowering customers is at the heart of everything we do.

Problem gambling may be low at around 0.5 per cent and, according to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, there is no evidence that it has increased in the last 20 years, but one problem gambler is one too many.

We are committed to providing a fair and enjoyable experience for all, but we know that one size doesn’t fit all. We use evidence-led approaches and innovate with new technology to offer a comprehensive raft of protections.

PLAYER PROTECTION TOOLKIT

SELF EXCLUSION

It is a condition of Betting and Gaming Council membership that operators allow anyone concerned about their gambling to exclude themselves online or from specific premises.

MOSES, the multi operator self-exclusion scheme allows customers to exclude from as many betting shops as they need to. Visit MOSES >

The SENSE scheme allows casino customers to self exclude from all land-based casinos licensed in Great Britain. Visit SENSE >

GAMSTOP allows customers to stop using gambling websites and apps run by companies licenses in Great Britain. Visit GAMSTOP >

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NEW COOLING OFF PERIOD FOR GAMING MACHINES

In November 2019, the Betting and Gaming Council announced the introduction of an Anonymous Player Awareness System (APAS) on betting shop gaming machines. APAS is a real-time algorithm which identifies areas of player behaviour that could indicate harmful play. Such behaviour will trigger an alert on-screen and force a break in play or ‘cooling-off period’.

Simultaneously staff will be alerted, allowing for a responsible gambling intervention where appropriate.


GAME DESIGN IMPROVED TO BOOST PLAYER SAFETY

A new Betting and Gaming Council Code of Conduct for the design of online games will help to improve player safety and tackle problem gambling. Measures include the slowing down of play through a minimum spin speed and the removal of turbo play, as well as removing game features such as slam stops and the ability to play multiple slots at the same time. These measures are already in place across our members and their suppliers, with future measures improving transparency around game characteristics and access to safer gambling information planned.

TOUGH NEW RULES ON VIP SCHEMES

Tough new rules have been put in place to address concerns over the use of VIP schemes by betting operators., The Betting and Gaming Council drew up a strict new code of conduct tightening the rules on how the schemes are operated, working with the Gambling Commission.

Under the changes, customers must be subjected to rigorous checks before being signed up for the schemes, while their betting behaviour must be closely monitored on an ongoing basis. The programmes must also be overseen by senior managers and run in a fully transparent way. Access to the schemes by under-25s will be restricted, and operators are banned from incentivising customers based on losses.

WHAT'S NEXT IN PLAYER PROTECTION

Player protection is a strategic priority.

Over the next twelve months, look out for progress in:

  • Improved self-exclusion schemes
  • Increased online and retail customer interactions

SETTING GAMBLING DEPOSIT LIMITS

Members of the Betting and Gaming Council have updated and enhanced the tools and technologies in place for customers to set their deposit limits. To highlight these new protections and to encourage players to gamble responsibly, the Betting and Gaming Council ran a Limits are Good multimedia campaign. The ‘limits are good’ message is based on research which demonstrated the direct link between enjoyable gambling and individuals’ ability to stay in control. The impact of the new tools, technology and campaign is currently being evaluated.

SUCCESS IN PREVENTING UNDER-AGE BETTING

Betting shops have scored a major success in preventing under-18s from betting.

Figures released by independent analysts Serve Legal showed a huge rise in the number of bookies preventing young people from entering their shops.

Over the past 10 years, the proportion of betting shops passing spot checks on under-age players has increased from 67 per cent to 91 per cent.

Writing for the BGC website, Serve Legal’s Jenni Garratt said: “From being one of the worst offenders, betting shops now top the class, with the highest pass rates of any age-restricted product retailers – a higher pass rate than pubs, supermarkets, convenience stores and petrol stations.”

“The reason for this success is straightforward. By constantly testing, and then re-testing those who fail, it means staff in betting shops are always focused on this vital part of their work and are stopping under-18s from gambling before they have even crossed the threshold.”

SAFER GAMBLING COMMITMENTS

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