Now in its sixth year and recognising the achievements of operators, suppliers and affiliates from across all the major disciplines. This latest entrant in the CasinoBeats contenders series delves into operator categories as we look at those vying for the ‘Innovation in Casino Entertainment’ gong.

LeoVegas

If last year’s success of casino streaming, extra chilli exclusivity and live casino expansion is anything to go by, then this year has been a feast far superior. Simple but smart innovations to the product, a swathe of new exclusives – including our very own LeoVegas Megaways slot – and new markets have certainly made this a year to remember.

Mansion

Putting our customer’s needs and expectations is at the forefront of what we do across all of our brands at Mansion. We focus on delivering exceptional products and service. This year, to maximise player’s enjoyment and casino experience, our flagship brand Casino.com launched the exciting innovative gaming experience, CasinoClub.

CasinoClub, by Captain Up is a brand-new gamification feature adding another dimension to regular casino play. It creates an exciting sense of achievement for players as they complete challenges, level-up and get rewarded for their casino play, as well as introducing them to a wider variety of games.

Videoslots

Videoslots.com is an industry-leading online casino with a comprehensive portfolio of content. It offers more than 3,800 slots and table games from the igaming industry’s leading suppliers, giving them more content than any other online operator. Our aim is to deliver the best possible user experience to players on our proprietary platform, complemented by diverse gamification and social tools. It’s for that reason we offer the personal touch, allowing players to tailor their content to suit their preferences.

Wildz

Wildz in a nutshell: Working with machine learning, giving real-time awards to the games that player actually likes with their average bets, having developed Spinback features which allows us to give extra excitement without competing with the actual games, we can say that our focus is in providing the best possible casino experience by the use of an automated, data driven casino and we use gamification to boost the casino experience by creating features that integrate with the games.

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The awards have been launched to celebrate those individuals or organisations that have done the most to promote the good name and image of casino gaming, in whatever form. The winners will collect their awards at the SBC Hall of Fame networking party, which takes place at London’s Natural History Museum this Thursday, 19th September.

Winner: IGT

Gaming giant IGT is recognised for the company’s enduring commitment to diversity and inclusivity in the workforce. IGT employs more than 12,000 people with a key objective that its workforce should reflect the diversity of its global customer base.

IGT is working towards this goal with a strategic focus on diversity and inclusion that comes from all levels of the organisation and through its Global Diversity & Inclusion Council, which seeks to create “a fair, inclusive culture that enables all employees to feel valued, respected, and engaged.”

Winner: Jesper Kärrbrink

The second Pride of Gaming Award goes to Jesper Kärrbrink, for his continued dedication in the field of responsible gambling.

The former CEO of Mr Green, Kärrbrink was one of the first to introduce responsible gaming as a core business asset. Since 2004 at Svenska Spel, with Playscan and the Spela Lagom initiative, and at Mr Green with the Green Gaming programme, Kärrbrink established responsible gambling as an indispensable part of the culture of a gaming company.

This work continues in his role as co-founder and creative director of Green Jade Games. Kärrbrink is also an advisor to beBettor, the UK-based affordability network.

Winner: Microgaming PlayItForward

Isle of Man-based Microgaming is recognised for the company’s longstanding CSR initiative, PlayItForward. Launched five years ago, Microgaming PlayItForward is a staff-driven social responsibility initiative that has had a hugely positive impact on both local and international communities.

Since inception, PlayItForward has provided significant financial and practical help to support health, education, charity, community and sports initiatives. This includes the independent Microgaming Health & Care Trust, which has been supporting Manx-registered charities and local health and social-care projects since 2002. PlayItForward has set a gold standard for social responsibility in the gaming sector and showcases the company’s commitment and dedication to being an outlet for social good and giving back to the community.

Stewart Darkin, managing director of CasinoBeats, said: “The Pride of Gaming Awards are intended to take the focus away from ‘best’ or ‘first’ and instead celebrate those who have made a significant contribution to the well-being of the sector, in the broadest terms.

“In IGT, Jesper and PlayItForward, we couldn’t have three more fitting winners. In these fields, they are examples to us all and they should be congratulated for their work.”

The CasinoBeats Summit and Betting on Sports, incorporating the Safer Gambling Forum, take place at Olympia London on September 17-20 – buy tickets here.

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The review will focus on reviewing current policies relating to gambling-related harms, as well as informing future prevention and treatment efforts.

The health body has been asked to “inform and support action on gambling-related harm as part of the follow up to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport-led review of gaming machines and social responsibility” in its remit letter for 2018 to 2019.

In the remit letter, DCMS confirmed that “PHE will conduct an evidence review of the health aspects of gambling-related harm to inform action on prevention and treatment.”

As part of the review, the National Institute of Health Research has commissioned a research unit at Sheffield University which will review of the effectiveness of both national and international policies and interventions to reduce gambling-related harms.

This will be complemented by a broader evidence-based review, spearheaded by PHE, which will look at the prevalence of gambling and associated health harms and their social and economic burden.

The review will primarily consider the ‘prevalence, determinants and harms associated with gambling, and the social and economic burden of gambling-related harms’ which is hoped will ‘support policy-making and practice aimed at preventing and addressing problem and dependent gambling, and gambling-related harms.’

PHE stated: “We are conducting this evidence review to inform what action we need to take as part of a public health approach to gambling-related harms. We hope that it will support policy-making and practice aimed at preventing and addressing problem and dependent gambling, and gambling-related harms.

“We expect that the research will identify gaps in the evidence base and make recommendations for future research and data collection.”

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Speaking at the Southbank Centre in London, McArthur explained that the UKGC’s call for evidence raised a number of concerns when it comes to VIP status’, which was thrust into the spotlight during a BBC Panorama documentary earlier this year.

During his address, McArthur placed a particular emphasis upon the issues associated with credit card gambling and inducements to gamble, in which he urged operators to ‘to do more to address online harms.’

Addressing gambling on credit, the UKGC CEO explained: “Our call for evidence has shown the level of concern and we are now consulting on what action we should take. We have a little more work to do, but I need to make it clear that the question is what action, not whether we should take any action to address our concerns.

“We already know that harm can occur for consumers at any stake levels and that effective use of account-based play data can be used to protect players. Nevertheless, we are looking closely at the case for introducing further protections for consumers online and this includes the evidence for imposing stake limits online as a means of further reducing the risk of harm.”

While he did emphasise that there has been ‘demonstrable progress’ in ‘markers of harm, customer interaction, affordability checks’, McArthur did point out that the UKGC remains ‘concerned’ over incentives and bonuses.

“We remain concerned around the offer of VIP status and associated incentives and bonuses,” he added. “The extent of wider public concern about these was highlighted in the recent Panorama programme, but more importantly they have been a constant feature in our enforcement work over recent years. 

“We cannot remain in a perpetual state of enforcement investigations into similar failings so, if the industry cannot or will not drive improvements in this area, we will need to explore the use of all our tools to encourage or mandate changes in the interests of consumer protection.” 

Pointing to the statistics, McArthur told attendees that the online market ‘outstrips’ the GGY brought in by ‘bricks and mortar’ gambling, having grown by 58 per cent compared to the ‘relatively stable’ growth of land-based operations.

Combined with the growth of mobile gambling, McArthur stressed that ‘we all need to do more to address online harms.’

He continued: “We know that conversations have already been taking place about the question of the treatment of VIPs and associated inducements to gamble.  As a result, we recently received an offer from one major operator to lead the development of a code of conduct in this area.

“We want to take up that offer and hope to see firm commitments in this area soon, including a pacey timetable for that work.”

Despite McArthur’s criticism of particular elements of the industry, he did point out that ‘what came over less clearly on TV was the fact that progress has been made’ in tackling problem gambling: “There has been an encouraging increase in the number of operators investing in and developing algorithms and machine learning to identify customers who may be experiencing harm.

“We have also seen increasing numbers of operators evaluating the effectiveness of their identification tools and customer interaction processes.”

He concluded: “We need your organisations to step forward to provide the right resource from your companies – leadership, financial, technical expertise, data, to make this happen.

“Where we can we will support you in kick starting this work, but where we see a lack of commitment and failure to meet standards, we will continue to be firm.

“If we work together I am sure we can make gambling fairer and safer.”

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Today we hear from Swintt CEO David Flynn, who moderated a session on CSR and gaming at September’s CasinoBeats Summit, at which the recently launched developer was the Platinum Sponsor.

“This is the first time we’ve actually presented the new company,” explains Flynn. “We’re presenting all our products, the direction were going in and a whole new suite of gamification tools.” And that direction includes a heavy focus on CSR activities and, as Flynn puts it, acting as human beings.

“To gaming companies – and everyone in general – it’s the right thing to do,” he says. “The most important reason I’m doing it is that I feel good about what I do for the world.

“My aim is that every company in the industry has a CSR initiative – and is hopefully working with us.”

At the 2019 CasinoBeats Summit, Flynn moderated a high-profile sustainable gaming panel that included Green Jade Gaming chairman and former Mr Green CEO Jesper  Kärrbrink, Microgaming CEO John Coleman and former Sky Betting & Gaming CEO Richard Flint. Does such a high-profile panel suggest CSR and responsible gambling in particular are now getting the attention it merits? Flynn thinks so.

“In terms of responsible gambling, its really important to look after our customers… and that we ensure that there are no damaging impacts on their lives. There are a number of charities here [at the Summit] and people that have been addicts in the past and to hear their stories is heartbreaking,” he says. “It may be a small percentage but the impact is really hard on those people and their families.”

Some suggest there’s a risk that the industry might become too focused on responsible gambling measures – does Flynn think is this a possibility? “It’s a simple response – no.”

Watch the full video interview with David Flynn below.

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Genting became the first operator to achieve GamCare’s Safer Gambling Standard – Advanced Level 3. CasinoBeats talked about the achievement with managing director Jeremy Taylor and why the industry should work together on the issue.

Genting will also be sharing insights on its commitment to creating a safe environment for players when Jon Duffy, its director of corporate assurance and regulatory affairs, takes part in the inaugural Safer Gambling Forum at Olympia London on 19 September.

Speaking ahead of the event Taylor (pictured), who moved to Genting from Betsson Group late last year, discusses the roles corporate culture, technology, self-regulation and certifications can play in improving the provision of safe gambling.

CasinoBeats: How have you found your first year with Genting?

JT: “I joined Genting 10 months or so ago with very high expectations, but it’s been even better than what I expected.

“Aside from the culture being fantastic and very high performing with some fantastic people, we have made some incredible strides in the digital space in a very short space of time.

“We have moved to Malta, built a team, office, finalised MGA and Spain licences, achieved the highest safer gambling accreditation, added significant new content and games, and launched a new mobile first website – all under a new umbrella brand GentingBet. These are just a few examples. Most importantly, we are also outgrowing the market in revenue.

“We are a relatively small team but backed by a global giant in the entertainment space and that is incredibly rare and exciting. There is no ceiling to our growth internationally.”

Genting UK recently became the first operator to achieve GamCare’s Safer Gambling Standard – Advanced Level 3. What prompted the decision to apply for the standard and what are the benefits of achieving it?

“Genting are rightly proud of their track record in respect of safer gambling. However, we are aware we cannot stand still and must continue to make progress in this area, which is at the heart of everything we do. As such, engaging with GamCare and undertaking the Standard was a priority for us.

“In simple terms this is an external audit, and achieving this standard ensures that our internal controls, processes, guidelines and policies are adequate, effective, in compliance with all applicable legislation, and the LCCP. This also provides us with the confidence and reassurance that we are doing what we should be doing!”

One of the things that GamCare’s certification focuses on is the way in which responsible gambling measures are integrated into the operator’s organisational culture – how much work did that involve and what advice would you give to operators that wish to follow Genting’s lead?

“Operating responsibly is incredibly important to us. It is not about ticking boxes to be compliant, it is central to everything that we do at every level of the organisation. Our staff, with their depth of knowledge and first-hand experience, are key in delivering this.

“We empower them and give them a voice through education and control systems to make a difference at the front line of safer gambling.”

Quality certification schemes play a key role in maintaining and raising standards in many industries; to what extent do you think the GamCare scheme could do the same within the gambling industry?

“The industry is facing a growing number of challenges and we (the industry) are most effective when we work together as one unified voice. An initiative led by GamCare to establish operational best practice can raise standards across the board.

“Having the SGS in place, as Genting do, demonstrates that the company has robust and effective systems in place.”

The issue of problem gambling has generated a lot of negative publicity for operators in the UK in recent months and some politicians are now talking about changing gambling legislation. Is new legislation inevitable or can industry self-regulation work?

“The hope is that this standard again raises standards to a level that demonstrates that we as an industry have in effect self-regulated and driven change, so the need for specific legislation change would not be required.

“We welcome dialogue with politicians, regulators, charitable bodies and our fellow operators as we look to establish an operational best practice that ensures high standards of self-regulation across the industry.”

What practical steps would you like to see operators take to improve the identification and management of players with, or at risk of developing, a gambling problem? And can they be successfully implemented without damaging the experience for other players?

“We are not saying in any way that we have the answer here, what we have is a culture that drives and puts safer gambling at the heart of everything we do. The way we identify and manage players with, or at risk of developing, a gambling problem is constantly evolving and dynamic. As we learn more in this field we update the way we approach, interact, record, monitor and evaluate; this is very much a circular process.

“We are working with experts and with research companies who have proven success in the area of behaviour analytics“

“Behavioural analytics is one of the primary methods to gain an insight into who is showing signs of being at risk. The use of data science techniques incorporating key variables or ‘markers of harm’ enables models to be built to predict whether customers are at risk, or will be at risk if they continue to engage in gambling to the same extent.

“We are working with experts in this field and with research companies who have prior and proven success in the area of behaviour analytics. This includes working with Mindway AI, who create advanced solutions for the identification of at-risk gambling and problem gambling based on neuroscience and artificial intelligence, to supply state-of-the-art early detection and intervention solutions.We will also innovate and invest from within, using our dedicated data scientists and safer gambling experts to drive this forward.

“The most important aspect is to have evidence-based findings, to assess and to re-evaluate, improving at every stage. We want the right answer and the right answer may not be found straight away. Effective research takes time, and failures are expected. Genting will continue to innovate and develop now and in the future in the pursuit of market leading standards.

“Does this damage the customer experience? Well ultimately this is about ‘knowing our customers’, and how best to deliver this information to them in a way that is effective. But where we have identified possible markers of harm, or behaviour that is not the norm for that customer, then there should be an engagement. This is for the benefit of the customer.”

To what extent can technology be used to create a safe environment for players online? Or are company culture and player education more influential factors?

“Clearly technology plays an important factor in creating a safe gambling environment for online gambling; for example, using data to better understand the customer.

“But this does not mean that company culture and player education are not as influential. They all play important roles, and help and support each other in us achieving a safe gambling environment for the customer.”

And finally, how important can initiatives such as the Safer Gambling Forum, which brings together operators, regulators and gambling charities, be in improving the environment for players?”

“As I’ve said before, the industry is most effective when it works together and shares its knowledge. Bringing together the top operators to share insight, discuss operational best practice and openly address the challenges ahead can only be a good thing.”

The Safer Gambling Forum takes place on Thursday 19 September, the second full day of the CasinoBeats Summit and Betting on Sports 2019 events at Olympia London.

Chaired by Graham Weir, Founder & CEO at Safer Gambling Solutions, the Forum features a full day of conference content with sessions addressing key issues such as loss limits and stakes reduction, understanding player finances, identifying and interacting with problem gamblers, and CSR.

The exhibition floor at the venue will also have a safer gambling area, with GamCare, Mindway AI, EPIC Risk Management, YGAM, GAMSTOP, GamBan and BetKnowMore among those with stands.

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The awards will be handed out at the SBC Hall of Fame networking party, which takes place at the Natural History Museum in London on Thursday, 19th September.

Stewart Darkin, managing director of CasinoBeats, explained the reasoning behind the awards: “We felt there was an opportunity to do something different with the Pride of Gaming Awards.

“Working with the industry as we do, both in the day-to-day running of CasinoBeats.com and in curating conference content for our CasinoBeats events, we see many instances of individuals and companies often doing remarkable things to benefit not just the people in the gaming sector but also those in wider society,” he said. 

“That might be through work in the fields of diversity and inclusivity, responsible gambling or social responsibility. This is why we have launched the Safer Gambling Forum and it is the rationale behind the Awards.”

CasinoBeats will hand out the first three Pride of Gaming Awards at the inaugural ceremony next week, with the recipients being a combination of individuals and organisations.

SBC managing director Andrew McCarron added: “While the image of gambling has been dragged through the mud in the media, the truth is that the gaming sector does lots of good work in communities and society in general. We feel it is time for the industry to celebrate those successes and recognise the people and companies behind those initiatives.

“We can’t wait to hand out the first CasinoBeats Pride of Gaming Awards, added to what is already a glittering Sports Betting Hall of Fame ceremony in London’s most striking venue.”

The CasinoBeats Summit and Betting on Sports, incorporating the Safer Gambling Forum, take place at Olympia London on September 17-20 – learn more and buy tickets for the CasinoBeats Summit here.

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Integrated into SBC’s Betting on Sports and CasinoBeats Summit events, the forum has been developed to provide a platform for industry leaders to discuss all elements of problem gambling from the political to the practical.

Graham Weir, founder and CEO at Safer Gambling Solutions, will be acting as the chair of the Safer Gambling Forum conference track, which will incorporate sessions titled:

• Loss Limits & Stakes Reduction 
• Understanding Player Finances
• Identifying & Interacting With Problem Gamblers
• Marketing’s Role in Prevention & Education
• CSR: The Key to Sustainable Gaming

The exhibition floor at Olympia London will have a safer gambling area, with stands from EPIC, YGAM, GamCare, GAMSTOP, GamBan, BetKnowMore and Mindway AI.

Weir commented: “Betting on Sports and the CasinoBeats Summit are the perfect platform to talk about reducing gambling-related harm from a business perspective. That is why I am happy to chair the Safer Gambling Forum on 19 September, as I believe the more companies that embrace safer gambling as part of their everyday operations, the better it is for the long-term health of the industry and society at large.”

Lee Willows, founder and CEO at YGAM, added: “The challenge of making gambling safer for everyone is something with which everyone in the gambling industry and beyond should be involved.

“YGAM is delighted to be contributing to the Safer Gambling Forum at the CasinoBeats Summit as we feel this is a great opportunity to discuss operational and legal matters in order to improve protection for customers and showcase how YGAM are working with the industry to achieve this.”

Paul Buck, CEO of EPIC Risk Management, said: “It’s great to be involved with the Safer Gambling Forum. This is a very important development as companies get to grips with how best to prevent problem gambling. The more the industry can get together to discuss these matters, the better informed we will all be, and the more potential solutions will present themselves.”

Speakers already confirmed for the Forum include Daniela Johansson (Deputy CEO and Chief Responsibility Officer, Paf), David Caruana (Responsible Gaming Manager, Kindred), Steven Armstrong (Group Money Laundering Reporting Officer, William Hill), Sarah Hanratty (CEO, Senet Group), Paul Buck (CEO, EPIC Risk Management), Fiona Palmer (CEO, GAMSTOP), Yakir Firestane (Director of Digital, The Health Lottery), Jon Duffy (Director of Corporate Assurance & Regulatory Affairs, Genting UK), Jesper Karrbrink (Exec Chairman, Green Jade), Alex Tomic (Founder and CEO, SlotsMillion), James Myles (Analyst, Eta Delta), Ray Wilson (Director, AMLGS), Harry Cott (CEO & Co-Founder, beBettor.com), and Américo Loureiro (Director, Solverde).

Stewart Darkin, managing director of CasinoBeats, said: “The launch of the Safer Gambling Forum is a very important step for SBC and CasinoBeats and reflects a clear shift in the industry agenda.

“Safer gambling practice has evolved from a topic of conversation to a critical business activity for leading operators, suppliers and affiliates. Through the Forum, we hope to deliver a valuable opportunity for the sector to discuss and develop the safer gambling agenda and, in doing so, help move the industry forward.”

The CasinoBeats Summit and Betting on Sports 2019 take place at Olympia London on September 17-20 

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The research, carried out by Ipsos MORI, found a three per cent decline in gambling participation among young persons compared to 2018. The report analysed the forms of gambling and gambling style games that young people legally take part in along with gambling on age restricted products.

The most popular form of gambling among 11-16 year olds was private bets for money (usually with friends), with 5 per cent of those taking part in the survey taking part in the activity. Meanwhile a further 3 per cent wager money on card games.

Tim Miller, Executive Director of the Gambling Commission, commented on the report: “This report demonstrates that children and young people’s interaction with gambling or gambling behaviours comes from three sources – gambling that they are legally allowed to participate in, gambling on age restricted products and gambling style games.  

“Any child or young person that experiences harm from these areas is a concern to us and we are absolutely committed to doing everything we can to protect them from gambling harms.

“Most of the gambling covered by this report takes place in ways which the law permits, but we must keep working to prevent children and young people from having access to age restricted products.  

“There operators have failed to protect children and young people we have and will continue to take firm action. This year alone, we have tightened rules and requirements around age verification to prevent children and young people from accessing age restricted products, put free-to-play games behind paywalls, and clamped down on irresponsible products.”

Four per cent of respondents reported playing on fruit or slot machines in the past seven days, while three per cent say they have played National Lottery scratchcards.

69 per cent of respondents had seen or heard gambling adverts or sponsorship deals while 83 per cent emphasised that such deals had not prompted them to gamble. 

Miller continued: ““We have been raising awareness about where risks may arise from gambling-style games such as loot boxes and social casino games for some time.  Even though we don’t have regulatory control in this area we are actively engaging with the games industry and social media platforms to look at ways to protect children and young people.

“Protecting children and young people from gambling harms is a collective responsibility and requires us, other regulators, the government, gambling operators, charities, teachers and parents to work together to make progress.”

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