Player Protection

Playtech Plc is funding an academic research collaboration to “enhance the effectiveness of personalised responsible gambling solutions” for the igaming sector.  The project sees the Dutch institutions of Erasmus Rotterdam and the University of Amsterdam collaborate and share expertise in how gambling can improve its all-round player protections and safeguards. The four-year project, titled ‘A Safe Bet: design and evaluation …

Michael Dugher argues that, with betting reform reportedly imminent, problem gambling treatment should focus on those who need it most.  In an interview with The Times this week, the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) Chief Executive stated that a blanket approach to player protection is not the way forward. The Gambling Act review White Paper is apparently due soon, with …

The Danish Gambling Authority (DGA), Spillemyndigheden has issued an update to licence holders on responsible gambling requirements. Issuing an update this week, the DGA reminded operators of guidance on deposit limits, duty of care and interventions, and marketing in cases of self-exclusion. On deposit limits, the authority asserted that the ‘it is important’ for the measures to be implemented by …

Finansdepartementet – the Swedish Ministry of Finance – has issued a radical proposal to allow licensed operators to share individual player data in a bid to ‘counter gambling abuse’. The Riksdag has been informed of a memorandum, in which customer data-sharing measures are endorsed by Niklas Wykman, Minister of Financial Markets who is tasked with overseeing Swedish gambling reforms.    The …

Sportradar Group AG has strengthened its commitment to athlete well being with the release of a new educational video which will be made available to its Integrity Services league and governing body partners. The documentary-style video aims to explore how legal sports betting may have an effect on the mental health and wellbeing of athletes. Athletes including former professional soccer …

GambleAware has launched its ‘Lived Experience Council’ (LEC), formed of victims of gambling harms who will provide ‘first-hand advice’ on the development of the charity’s activities, programmes and strategic objectives. A directive of its new ‘Organisational Strategy 2021-2026’ – the Council was established to provide GambleAware teams with tacit insights on the lived experience of gambling harms.  GambleAware noted, “the …

Gambling Minister Paul Scully has warned industry leadership that the White Paper’s publishing of gambling reforms will not end discussions on gambling and its impact on society. Speaking at GambleAware‘s tenth annual conference, Scully, the fifth DCMS minister to oversee the Gambling Review’s agenda, recognised frustrations at the continued delay of the White Paper.  “I am aware that you’ve seen …

The past 12 months have seen a raft of financial penalties against betting firms in the UK alone – but this is just one element of a global phenomenon, with total charges reaching £105m so far this year. In the British market, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) issued a total of £44.6m in monetary charges, excluding figures from a recent …

Across Europe throughout 2022 the impact of regulatory changes, particularly regarding compliance, has been self-evident. Evaluating the changing regulatory roadmap across the continent and further afield on SBC’s latest webinar, ‘Staying Agile While Handling Multijurisdictional Compliance’, one jurisdiction came in particular as posing a challenge – the UK. As the country’s review of its gambling legislation nears its two year …

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has reminded licensed operators and stakeholders to submit feedback on its consultation related to newly issued guidance on remote customer interactions. The Commission launched the consultation on 22 November, seeking feedback on new customer care interactions imposed on remote operators – the majority of which came into force in September 2022.   Originally announced in April …