60m

The Betting & Gaming Council (BGC) has announced that Safer Gambling Week 2024 achieved more than 60 million impressions across social media platforms.

This year’s campaign, which took place between 18 and 24 November, had a 21% increase in impressions compared to the previous year, with engagement raising awareness of safer gambling taking place across X, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

Several cross-party UK MPs, peers and shadow ministers also backed Safer Gambling Week, including Gambling Minister Baroness Fiona Twycross and Shadow DCMS Secretary Stuart Andrew MP.

The campaign was also supported by the UK Gambling Commission and its CEO Andrew Rhodes, in addition to several football clubs including Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton of the Premier League.

The BGC added that the Safer Gambling Week website also received more than half a million visits during the campaign, helping to provide advice on safer gambling tools such as deposit limits and time-outs and directing those who need help to the right resources.

“These outstanding and record-breaking results prove once more that our industry is serious about promoting the safer gambling tools available to customers and signposting the help and support available to those who need it,” commented Grainne Hurst, CEO of the BGC.

€8.05bn

Italy’s Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM) has reported a drop in tax revenues from Italian gambling operations in 2024, stating that it collected €8.05bn in gambling taxes as of 30 September 2024. 

This figure marks a 6% decline from the €8.2bn collected during the same period in 2023. For the entirety of 2023, ADM gathered €11.62bn in gambling taxes. If the trend continues, 2024 will be the first year ADM sees a drop in tax revenues, excluding the pandemic-hit year of 2020.

The bulletin detailed a sharp decline in Q3 2024. Gambling tax revenues fell by 16% to €2.22bn, compared to €3.3bn in Q3 2023. ADM linked this drop to a 26% year-on-year decrease in net gambling expenditure, which declined from €5.9bn in Q3 2023 to €4.35bn in Q3 2024.

While gambling revenues fell, the tobacco sector performed strongly, generating €4.18bn in Q3 2024—an increase of 5.77% compared to the previous year.

In the gambling sector, gaming machines remained the largest revenue source, contributing €910m (41%) from net expenditure of €1.26bn. Lotteries and number games followed, adding €870m (39.08%), while betting brought in €180m (8.17%), and other games accounted for €260m (11.64%).

$2.3bn

Analysts in Macau believe that the region will witness an improved December after GGR for last month stood at MOP$18.4bn ($2.30bn).

Despite November finishing relatively strong compared to a slow start, Macau’s Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau declared daily GGR of MOP$615m (US$77m) – a figure on the lower end of monthly GGR for 2024. 

According to Vitaly Umansky, a Senior Analyst at Seaport Research Partners, November is typically a weak month and December should see GGR rise by around 5.2% year-on-year and 5.9% month-on-month to around MOP$19.5bn (US$2.43bn).

Carlo Santarelli, a Stock Analyst from Deutsche Bank, expects a weaker December than Umanskey, predicting a smaller 3% YoY increase in GGR to around MOP$191bn (US$2.39 billion).

He wrote: “Our December forecast represents a monthly sequential per day improvement of 0.4%, which, we note, compares to the 0.7% average sequential per day improvement in December, relative to November, over the period from 2013 through 2019.”

However, this growth could be hindered by the expected visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping for the inauguration of incoming Macau Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai on 20 December, as presidential events often lead to declines in visitation from mainland China. 

1

HungryBear Gaming has celebrated a ‘game-changing’ milestone as the studio announced that SlotMasters has become the first multiplayer slot to be certified for real money gaming.

Initially launched as a free-to-play product in 2020, SlotMasters has been approved to be available to players in a real-money fashion, and will become available via the studio’s partner Yggdrasil Gaming.  

HungryBear’s CEO and Founder Justin Chamberlain took to LinkedIn to make the “historic” announcement, stating that: “SlotMasters has officially become the first-ever multiplayer slot game certified for real money gaming.

“This achievement is the culmination of tireless dedication from our incredible team and the invaluable guidance and support of our friends and partners across the industry. It’s a testament to what’s possible when passion meets perseverance.

“We’ve always believed in pushing the boundaries of what slot games can be, and this certification marks a new chapter – not just for SlotMasters, but, dare I say it, for the evolution of slots.”

The post Safer Gambling Week, Macau and multiplayer slots: the week in numbers appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Organised by the BGC, BACTA and the Bingo Association, this is the eighth year the Safer Gambling Week campaign has taken place, raising awareness about responsible gambling tools and resources available to players in land-based venues and online, kick-starting safer gambling conversations between staff, customers and their friends and family.

This year’s campaign, which took place between 18 and 24 November, had a 21% increase in impressions compared to the previous year, with engagement to raise awareness of safer gambling taking place across X, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

Several cross-party UK MPs, peers and shadow ministers also backed Safer Gambling Week, including Gambling Minister Baroness Fiona Twycross and Shadow DCMS Secretary Stuart Andrew MP.

The campaign was also supported by the UK Gambling Commission and its CEO Andrew Rhodes, in addition to several football clubs including Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton of the Premier League.

The BGC added that the Safer Gambling Week website also received more than half a million visits during the campaign, helping to provide advice on safer gambling tools such as deposit limits and time-outs and directing those who need help to the right resources.

“These outstanding and record-breaking results prove once more that our industry is serious about promoting the safer gambling tools available to customers and signposting the help and support available to those who need it,” commented Grainne Hurst, CEO of the BGC.

“Whilst we await the details on the number of people using safer gambling tools, past years have shown us that an increase in the number of social media impressions has led to an increase in the use of popular tools – like time-outs and deposit limits – that only exist in the regulated industry.

“Thanks to Safer Gambling Week, we can be confident millions of people are better informed about the ways they can safely enjoy their hobby, that’s something the entire industry can be proud of.

“As I said at the beginning of the week, our commitment to safer gambling is not just for one week of the year. It is our mission for every week of the year.”

Several other events took place during Safer Gambling Week to support the campaign,  including the EGR Safer Gambling Forum and a live webinar from EPIC Global Solutions on problem gambling issues among women.

Recently, SBC held its SBC Digital – Player Protection Day, a one-day online conference presented in partnership with Vixio Regulatory Intelligence. Topics covered during the one-day event included player protection tools and software, safer gambling messaging, affordability checks, cross-operator collaboration and more.

The post BGC: Safer Gambling Week 2024 hits over 60m social media impressions appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Every year in the betting and gaming industry, we come together to give the dedicated attention and space to education, awareness and signposting for Safer Gambling Week. This year’s week runs from 18-24 November, and aims to get everyone talking about gambling responsibly, as well as directing those who need further advice and support to the right point of contact.

The week-long educational event, which is led by the licensed gambling industry with the support of a wide range of partners, will see every sector of the gambling industry in the UK taking part (bookmakers, bingo clubs, casinos and online gaming operators).

While responsible gambling is something we consider daily and are always aware of, it’s a benefit to both the public and the industry to listen, learn and join together during safer gambling week. 

Staff training

Anyone who works in a licensed occupation in a strictly regulated industry knows how awkward it can be to tell a customer no, even when it’s for their own safety. 

Whether it’s suggesting a glass of water instead of another whiskey or taking a break from the roulette table, it can be an uncomfortable situation for both parties. However, it’s often necessary for player protection, and making sure that every employee is up-to-date on industry best practice is vital to continued success in the sector.

A few key points to keep in mind for staff training:

1. Do it and record it in your training log;
2. Do it as part of induction;
3. Look out for indicators of problem gambling;
4. Be aware of how customers may seek help – self exclusion, setting time and spending limits and taking breaks;
5. Engage in meaningful customer interactions; and
6. Review gambling training at least annually. 

Ultimately, the only way to maintain a sustainable, successful gambling industry is to ensure that it stays safe, fun and entertaining for customers at all times. 

………..

This year’s Safer Gambling Week has garnered significant support from a myriad of political corners, gaining the backing of a wide range of cross-party Parliamentarians, including Ministers & Shadow Ministers came out to support Safer Gambling Week 2024.

Grainne Hurst, Chief Executive of the BGC, emphasised: “Safer Gambling Week is about showcasing safer gambling tools that exist in the regulated industry all year round to ensure that the millions of people who enjoy a regular flutter, continue to do so in a safe and responsible environment.

“Previous years have shown that this campaign leads to increased use of those popular safer gambling tools – like time-outs and deposit limits.”

The post Safer Gambling Week: Best practices for staff training  appeared first on CasinoBeats.

29%

Macau enjoyed a historically strong May, as gross gaming revenue reached its highest post-pandemic levels. 

As reported by InsideAsianGaming, total GGR was recorded at MOP 20.2bn ($2.52bn), a 29 per cent increase on the same period last year. 

Furthermore, underlining the upward trajectory of the region, it also saw a nine per cent rise from GGR in April, continuing to build back from a challenging period – fuelled by the lifting of pandemic restrictions. 

It also marks a trend of Macau’s gambling sector, continuing to exceed expectations when it comes to engagement and turnover, as in March, it also enjoyed a staggering 53.1 per cent growth compared to the same period last year. 

In total, March saw MOP 19.5bn ($2.4bn) coming in, numbers that were bolstered by a rising number of visitors in the region – as footfall and tourism continued to grow significantly. 

Speaking to Bloomberg China, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director of the Macau Tourism Office, predicted that a total of 33 million tourists will embrace the region this year.

15%

Spain’s Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling has reported a gross gambling revenue increase in the first quarter of 2024, rising by over 15 per cent year-over-year.

Casino revenue was down in comparison to the previous quarter but had improved when compared to Q1 2023 figures by just over 17 per cent.

For Q1, the Spanish authority declared a GGR of €350.69m, up 11.23 per cent when compared to Q4 2023’s €315.29m and a 15.14 per cent YoY improvement.

Deposits for the quarter stood at €1.09bn, a 5.61 per cent increase quarter-over-quarter and a 15.85 per cent uptick YoY. Withdrawals came in at €739.96m, up 0.72 per cent QoQ and 13.9 per cent in comparison to the same period last year.

New accounts came in at 446,586, a 15.21 per cent increase QoQ and a 33.64 per cent uptick YoY. The monthly average of active game accounts was 1,327,575, up 4.57 per cent QoQ and 14.58 per cent YoY, while the monthly average of new game accounts was 148,862, a 15.21 per cent increase QoQ and a 33.64 per cent uptick YoY.

Of the €350.69m GGR, casino operations had the largest share at 47.84 per cent (€167.76m), followed by betting at 42.85 per cent (€150.28m), poker at 8.11 per cent (€28.45m), bingo at 1.19 per cent (€4.19m) and contests with a minimal share (€2,000).

For Q1, the Spanish market had 78 licensed operators – casino: 50, betting: 41, poker: nine, bingo: four and contests: two.

Casino’s GGR of €167.76m is a decline of 2.05 per cent QoQ but a 17.02 per cent improvement YoY. Slots fell by 7.51 per cent QoQ but rose by 14.98 per cent YoY. Live roulette grew by 6.37 per cent QoQ and by 22.19 per cent in comparison to the same period last year.

A$67m

The Federal Court of Australia ordered SkyCity Adelaide to pay A$67m to the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre for breaching the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006. 

SkyCity has also been ordered to pay the Australian Government agency’s costs of $3m.

Civil penalty proceedings were commenced by AUSTRAC in December 2022, analysing historical contraventions of the AML/CTF Act during the period of December 7, 2016 to December 14, 2022.

This action stemmed from a compliance campaign initially started by the agency in September 2019.

Last month, SkyCity and AUSTRAC filed joint submissions with the Federal Court, with the operator admitting that it operated in contravention of two sections of the AML/CTF Act.

AUSTRAC stated that SkyCity admitted that its contraventions “made it vulnerable to criminal exploitation, and exposed the Australian community and financial system to money laundering and terrorism financing risk”. 

SkyCity has also been accused of not establishing an “appropriate framework to ensure adequate board and senior management oversight of its AML/CTF programs”.

AUSTRAC added that SkyCity has taken steps to address the issues identified, but the remediation remains ongoing.

18%

According to the Betting and Gaming Council, the number of deposit limits set during Safer Gambling Week rose by 18 per cent in comparison to the same month in 2022, while 54 per cent of players setting deposit limits did so for the first time.

This led BGC CEO and Acting Chair Michael Dugher to describe the campaign as a “powerful advert” for player awareness of safer gambling tools.

There was also a 300 per cent increase for the second year in a row in the number of players actively setting a reality check, while the use of maximum stake limits also rose by 300 per cent. 

In total, 83,242 unique account holders set deposit limits, which is up by 12.5 per cent in comparison to the previous year.

Across social media – X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram – Safer Gambling Week 2023 achieved over 50 million impressions, as well as a 70 per cent increase on the previous year as Safer Gambling Week messages appeared on major social media websites nearly 30 million times. The Safer Gambling Week website also had half a million visits.

Dugher commented: “These new figures show Safer Gambling Week continues to be a powerful advert for increasing use of safer gambling tools in the regulated industry.

“Millions of customers now use safer gambling tools including deposit limits and time outs. This is a pillar of the regulated industry and is in marked contrast to the unsafe, unregulated and growing online gambling black market, which provides no safer gambling support, contributes zero tax and does not support sport.”

£49.5m

GambleAware has revealed the donations it received across 2023/24 as British betting operators contributed heavily to the charity’s total of £49.5m in voluntary donations. 

However, CEO Zoë Osmond has reiterated the message that vital funding for gambling harm prevention and treatment programmes should not be disrupted as services wait for the implementation of the new statutory levy. 

Britain’s largest four gambling operators – bet365, Flutter Entertainment, Entain and William Hill – contributed around 94 per cent of the total figure, donating £46.6m to support GambleAware. 

This figure from the ‘big four’ represents an increase of £3.1m from the operators’ contributions of £43.5m across 2022/23.

Described as essential funding by the organisation, the donations will aid the organisation in encouraging responsible gambling and player protection with public health campaigns, education and training programmes, harm prevention tools, treatment services and research. 

Osmond stated: “While we await the implementation of the new statutory levy, donations from the voluntary funding system are key to ensure GambleAware can continue to deliver the essential gambling harm prevention and treatment programmes we commission.”

5.7%

Eminence Capital has become the third largest investor in Entain and increased its stakes in the embattled gambling giant to 5.7 per cent. 

Eminence increased its stake in the firm via the acquisition of around 7.1 million shares, which are reportedly priced at around 710p.

Since the start of the year, Eminence has continued to increase its interest in Entain after the investment firm’s boss, Ricky Sandler was named a non-executive director of Entain. 

The US investment firm has also been critical of Entain, specifically when it comes to the group’s acquisition strategy and the lucrative takeover of STS Holdings. 

Before being made an executive director, Sandler had been vocal about Entain exploring the sale of BetMGM. 

The deal continues a trend of equity suitors and private investors circling over the gambling giant eyeing the firm as a potential key opportunity for growth. 

Nonetheless, Sandler and Eminence are limited in being able to purchase shares up to eight per cent, as per the agreement between the two parties. 

The post Macau, SkyCity, Safer Gambling Week and GambleAware: the week in numbers appeared first on CasinoBeats.

According to the BGC, figures from Safer Gambling Week 2023 – which ran from November 13 to 19 – showed yearly growth in the number of players setting deposit limits, reality checks, maximum stake limits and increased awareness of the campaign across social media.

The number of deposit limits set during Safer Gambling Week rose by 18 per cent in comparison to the same month in 2022, while 54 per cent of players setting deposit limits did so for the first time.

There was also a 300 per cent increase for the second year in a row in the number of players actively setting a reality check, while the use of maximum stake limits also rose by 300 per cent. 

In total, 83,242 unique account holders set deposit limits, which is up by 12.5 per cent in comparison to the previous year.

Across social media – X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram – Safer Gambling Week 2023 achieved over 50 million impressions, as well as a 70 per cent increase on the previous year as Safer Gambling Week messages appeared on major social media websites nearly 30 million times. The Safer Gambling Week website also had half a million visits.

Dugher commented: “These new figures show Safer Gambling Week continues to be a powerful advert for increasing use of safer gambling tools in the regulated industry.

“Millions of customers now use safer gambling tools including deposit limits and time outs. This is a pillar of the regulated industry and is in marked contrast to the unsafe, unregulated and growing online gambling black market, which provides no safer gambling support, contributes zero tax and does not support sport.”

In its seventh year, Safer Gambling Week is an annual cross-sector initiative as the UK and Irish regulated betting and gaming industry, charities and stakeholders promote safe and responsible play, signposting to help and providing advice on tools like deposit limits and time outs, starting the conversation about safer gambling.

The initiative is backed by many cross-party senior MPs and peers – including Gambling Minister Stuart Andrew and several shadow ministers including Shadow Gambling Minister Stephanie Peacock – as well as the UK Gambling Commission and its Chief Executive, Andrew Rhodes.

Among the football clubs that promoted Safer Gambling Week 2023 include Premier League sides West Ham United and Brighton as well as EFL sides Southampton, Middlesborough and Blackpool, who displayed the Safer Gambling Week logo on their shirt for their League One clash with Shrewsbury Town.

Safer Gambling Week 2024 will take place from 18-24 November 2024.

Dugher continued: “Our members promote these tools all year round, but a single dedicated week, bringing together the whole sector alongside huge support from cross-party MPs, from the Government and the independent regulator the Gambling Commission, really turbocharges that work – and these figures show it makes a real difference.

“The record numbers for both impressions and use of safer gambling tools show the industry has never been more committed to ensuring the many millions who enjoy a regular flutter continue to do so in a safe and responsible environment.”

Last month, the BGC reported that its member bookmakers and casinos achieved record compliance rates for age verification checks.

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70

Coming off the back of Safer Gambling Week, the Betting & Gaming Council has revealed that impressions for responsible gambling promotions increased by 70 per cent compared to 2022. 

According to the UK gambling trade body, social media impressions across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter/X for Safer Gambling Week promotions came in at over 50 million between November 13-19. 

BGC Chief Executive Michael Dugher commented: “This year’s Safer Gambling Week campaign has proved another huge success, achieving new records for promoting the safer gambling tools available to customers and signposting the help and support available to those who need it.

“It is proven that the success of the campaign leads to increased use of popular safer gambling tools – like time-outs and deposit limits – that only exist in the regulated industry.

“The record numbers for both impressions and website visits show that the industry has never been more committed to ensuring the many millions who enjoy a regular flutter continue to do so in a safe and responsible environment.”

585 

Entain has agreed to a £585m settlement with the Crown Prosecution Service after being subject to a bribery investigation, stemming from its previous Turkish business. 

Paying the settlement to HMRC, the owner of Ladbrokes and Coral noted that it has since transformed as a company, regarding the case as a legacy issue as the illegal activity took place before its 2020 rebrand when it traded as GVC Holdings. 

The original HMRC investigation commenced in 2019, over Entain’s former subsidiary, Headlong – sold in 2017 – and its online gambling activities in Turkey. 

Chairman Barry Gibson stated: “This legacy issue pertains to a business divested by a past management team six years prior. The company has undergone significant changes since then, and the DPA process has underscored the profound evolution from the GVC of the past to today’s Entain. 

“We remain focused on advancing our operations exclusively within regulated markets and are acknowledged as a leading, responsible entity with unparalleled corporate governance across our business.”

Entain is poised to seek final judicial approval for the DPA on December 5.

5

The UK government’s Autumn Statement in regard to budgeting has faced criticism from the BGC, referring to a ‘stealth tax on land-based casinos’. 

The trade body emphasised that the lack of attention paid to inflation when it comes to the casino sector is essentially creating a £5m annual tax increase across BGC land-based casino members.

Specifically, the body highlighted the Gaming Duty Bands applied to UK casinos, which have been frozen again and will not rise with inflation, increasing the economic strain for casinos. 

According to the BGC, the freeze on Gaming Duty Bands is expected to cost casinos £25m over the next five years.

BGC CEO, Michael Dugher, said: “Freezing Gaming Duty Bands is a stealth tax which has the potential to slow recovery and weaken future growth. Removing it would have provided a welcome boost for the land-based casino sector at a crucial time.

“Instead, the decision to maintain the status quo represents a missed opportunity for companies ready and able to generate jobs and investment across the country.”

50.7 

Germany’s two trade bodies for its online casino and sports betting sectors, DOCV and DSWV, have supported a study suggesting that just half – 50.7 per cent – of the nation’s gamblers are using licenced operators. 

Conducted by economist Günther Schnabl at the University of Leipzig with data from market research company Nielsen Media, the study looked at online activities of approximately 25,000 consumers in Germany, recording visits and engagements with over 700 gambling domains.

The report detailed a significant shift towards unlicensed EU (28.9%) and offshore (19.9%) operators observed since January 2019.

In response to said study, Germany’s regulator – the GGL – suggested that any data collections based on the nation’s black market gambling are ‘currently contentious’.

Reaffirming confidence in its ability to regulate the nation, the group stated: “The GGL firmly rejects criticisms from the industry that the GGL’s approach to collecting data from the illegal online gambling market is based on a static model that does not take market changes into account.”

“Collecting data on illegal online gambling is complex due to the ever-changing nature of the black market. All collected data is estimative, capturing a snapshot of the market at a specific time.”

The regulator reinforced its assessment that the market value of illegal value stands between €300m-500m, around 2 per cent to 4 per cent of the current legal market’s size, while estimating the number of websites offering illegal online gambling stands somewhere between 800 and 900 sites. 

15.9 

Catena Media reported a Q3 group revenue decline as the company transitioned some of its North American contracts from cost-per-acquisition contracts to revenue share.

The company declared a group revenue from continued operations of €15.9m, a 28 per cent drop year-over-year compared to the €21.9m reported during Q3 2023.

Catena Media attributed the drop in revenue “primarily reflecting a strategic transition of some contracts in North America from CPA to revenue share”.

Per vertical, casino operations brought in €10.1m, a 23 per cent YoY decline (2022: €13.2m), while sports operations came in at €5.7m, down 34 per cent (2022: €8.7m).

North American operations comprised 84 per cent of group revenue during the quarter, while the Rest of world stood at 16 per cent. CPA made up 81 per cent of group revenue in Q3, followed by revenue share at 17 per cent and fixed at two per cent.

25

Long-term Bragg shareholder Raper Capital has encouraged the B2B igaming group to engage in a full sale of the company, following a stock price drop of 25 per cent since the transition from Oryx Gaming to Bragg five years ago. 

The probe came as Raper reported that although Bragg’s revenues have quadrupled since the transition, from €26m to €97m, the stock price has not reflected such growth, with Founder Jeremey Raper stating that entities managed by the investment fund are willing to purchase 375,000 shares. 

In a letter to Bragg CEO Matevz Mazij, Raper wrote: “A sale of the company should deliver a gargantuan premium, and certainty of value. As such, it is evidently clear that a third-party sale of the business is the only way to crystallise a proper return for the underlying business value that you, and legacy management, have created. 

“I believe most other minority shareholders would not only support this initiative but indeed agree with my contention that such an initiative is the last, best course available to the company.”

“By calling for a sale of the company now, I only seek to preserve, and finally unlock, that latent value for the benefit of all stakeholders.”

The post RG promotion, ‘stealth’ taxes and Catena Media: the week in numbers appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Safer Gambling Week, which took place this year between November 13-19, is in its seventh year, bringing the gambling industry together to highlight the resources available to players and help them stay in control of their gambling, as well as provide them with advice, encouraging conversation amongst friends and family about safer gambling.

Organised by the BGC, BACTA and the Bingo Association, the initiative’s website received half a million visits during the week, several cross-party senior MPs and peers backed the campaign, and the UK Gambling Commission supported the event as well.

The more than 50 million impressions on social media for Safer Gambling Week this year is a 70 per cent increase in comparison to the nearly 30 million recorded in 2022.

BGC Chief Executive Michael Dugher commented: “This year’s Safer Gambling Week campaign has proved another huge success, achieving new records for promoting the safer gambling tools available to customers and signposting the help and support available to those who need it.

“It is proven that the success of the campaign leads to increased use of popular safer gambling tools – like time-outs and deposit limits – that only exist in the regulated industry.

“The record numbers for both impressions and website visits show that the industry has never been more committed to ensuring the many millions who enjoy a regular flutter continue to do so in a safe and responsible environment.”

Football clubs across the country supported Safer Gambling Week too, including West Ham United, Brighton, Southampton and Middlesbrough, as well as Blackpool who featured the initiative’s logo on their shirt during their game last weekend.

Several events took place during the week as well, with speakers from safer gambling charities providing knowledge and best practices for responsible play.

Dugher added: “Thanks to Safer Gambling Week, we can be confident millions of people are better informed about the ways they can enjoy their hobby even more safely and responsibly, that’s something the entire industry can be proud of.

“But the regulated industry’s commitment to safer gambling is not just for one week of the year. It is our mission for every week of the year.”

The post BGC: Safer Gambling Week promotion up 70 per cent in 2023 appeared first on CasinoBeats.

The research also stated that 19 per cent of the survey’s respondents admitted to either “usually or always” chasing their gambling losses, which the operator says shows there is a “need for greater education and awareness around gambling”.

The operator conducted the survey as part of its commitment to responsible gambling, educating the public about gambling habits and how to stay responsible while betting, and as part of Safer Gambling Week in the UK.

For its research, BetMGM surveyed over 1,000 UK people aged 18-plus who have gambled at least once in the last 12 months, asking them 10 questions about their gambling habits.

Of note, 51 per cent of the respondents stated that they viewed the funds in their gambling account differently from their personal funds, even though the money holds the same value. BetMGM said this indicates “an innate awareness” of the money’s true value.

As well as the previously mentioned 19 per cent of participants that said they usually or always chase gambling losses, 14 per cent said they don’t view their winnings as ‘real money’.

However, 92 per cent of surveyed respondents aged between 18 and 24 said they have placed a monetary restriction on their betting account to make sure they play responsibly.

46 per cent of participants said the money they won from gambling goes into their savings account, while 26 per cent used their winnings to place another bet straight away.

“The industry has come on leaps and bounds in the past decade – we know so much more about responsible gambling and everyone at BetMGM is devoted to ensuring our customers play safely,” commented Sam Behar, UK Director at BetMGM.

“We’re a huge supporter of Safer Gambling Week but it is something that is core to our business throughout the year.

“We’re delighted to see the growing use of responsible gambling with younger players throughout the UK, but there is always more that can be done. We are striving to improve and introduce new methods to help potential problem gamblers.

“To those who have admitted chasing their losses and those who view the funds in their betting accounts as different to that of their bank accounts, we implore them to see that money as having real-world value.”

BetMGM has numerous responsible gambling tools and services available for its players including human customer 24/7 support, deposit, loss, session and wagering limits, self-exclusion and ad-limiting tools and access to therapy, support groups and financial blocks.

The post BetMGM research shows need for ‘greater education around gambling’ appeared first on CasinoBeats.

CasinoBeats: Technology allows for early detection and messaging, do you think automated processes are enough to deter problem gambling at the source, or does this require a human touch?

Kimberley Broad, Chief Compliance Officer at Games Global (right): I think we have enough case history now to establish that whilst early detection and messaging can be effective, for some, this will not be enough and meaningful human contact can be the key differentiator in helping to keep players safe. 

Where technology has a critical role to play however is by helping guide the right action to the right player at the right time. Suppliers can support operators with data to make decisions. This could be to ensure that a trained customer service operative can make a targeted human connection with a player in need, as opposed to focusing on a player with no indication of potentially problematic behaviour. This is essential and can make a real difference.

Niklas Hopfgartner, Data Scientist at OpenBet’s Neccton (left): Automated processes alone are not enough to deter problem gambling at the source. Our system also sends players customised messages, which are triggered by a certain type of behaviour. However, not all players read their messages, and if they do, they also don’t always follow recommendations. 

There will always be a human component in addressing problem gambling. Sometimes it may be necessary for trained personnel to email or call a high-risk gambler and ask them to complete a self-assessment of their gambling behaviour, to check they can recall it. If all else fails, the operator may need to ban the player from the platform or a single betting product.

Tom Farrell, CMO at ClearStake: It requires a combination of both. We need to strike a balance, with computers doing the maths and automatically identifying indicators of problem behaviours, so people are free to do the human side of the job.

The worst use of a human being is looking through a bank statement with a calculator, doing maths to figure out what somebody’s disposable income is. A computer can do that in seconds. The best use of that person is being on the phone to somebody with unusual or concerning behaviour, to establish a human connection and decide if this person is simply someone of means who is enjoying their hobby, or somebody who is perhaps spiralling out of control. 

That is a judgement only a human can make, and we should use the technology available to free up humans for making those judgements. Without wanting to sound like an advertisement, using a system like ours saves a lot of time, reduces human error and thus gives compliance teams more confidence. One of our clients has found ClearStake leads to a 60% reduction in the time it took staff to reach a decision on player financial health.

CasinoBeats: Looking ahead, what technologies do you believe will have the biggest impact on promoting and ensuring safer gambling practices in the years to come? 

Ed Mitchell, Head of Data at Future Anthem (left): Positive play is the top priority for us right now. Future Anthem is heavily committed to this initiative because of its tremendous potential impact. For those who may not be acquainted with the concept, positive play shifts the approach to player protection. 

Rather than simply reacting to risky behaviours, the aim is to proactively encourage players to engage in a consistently positive manner through gamification and positive reinforcement.  

NH: In terms of technology, we are well-positioned compared to other industries. When it comes to curbing and treating addictions or disorders, we have accurate, cost-effective, and real-time player tracking data which can be used to identify problem gambling and provide effective interventions. 

As an industry, we need to constantly evaluate the effectiveness of and develop various responsible gaming tools such as self-exclusion, limit setting, etc. to provide the most effective interventions and safeguards to curb problem gambling. 

OpenBet and Neccton are working on this and constantly publishing scientific studies on these very issues. We believe that it is only through academic research that we can advance player protection on a global scale.

TF (Right): Artificial intelligence is going to get better at identifying troubling behaviour. AI will be able to spot a player who is behaving in a way that it has observed before, that it is programmed to identify as unsafe and that needs to be shut down. 

Meanwhile, Open Banking technology, such as ClearStake, is going to give operators almost total confidence that the people who are betting with them are doing so within their means. It makes it incredibly easy to do a job that right now operators (and customers hate) – sharing financial data and reaching decisions around affordability and money laundering.

KB: Whilst the rest of the world is getting to grips with large language model AI such as Chat GPT and Claude 2, our industry has seen predictive behaviour modelling AI play a role in helping understand player behaviour for a little while now. 

As these large data models understand more about what is and what isn’t problematic behaviour and as more becomes known about markers of home from studies etc, then the accuracy and efficiency of these models and products improve. 

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To be led by safer gambling consultancy EPIC Risk Management, the Kindred-funded gambling education sessions have been designed specifically for players and staff at the Scottish Premiership team to provide independent gambling guidance.

The sessions will be bespoke, tailored to individual needs, featuring insights from former football players who have experienced gambling-related issues, including some who have played at international level.

Rangers’ men’s first team, B-team and women’s teams will participate, while selected academy cohorts will take part separately.

“Kindred wants to run a sustainable business built on people enjoying themselves safely. That’s why we have reaffirmed our commitment not only to this project with Rangers but to our “Journey towards Zero” too,” commented Sam Mead, UK General Manager at Kindred.

“Added to that, we are investing in our technology stack to further develop our sophisticated detection software. This, allied with a greater emphasis on education and safer gambling messaging, will help Kindred drive forward its industry-leading model of sponsorship that is benefitting clubs and their communities.”

Kindred has been a partner with Rangers for the past ten years. This season, the group focused itsr front-of-shirt sponsorship on its “Zero % Mission” which is the group’s ‘Journey towards Zero’ of reaching a point over time where zero per cent of the revenue is generated from harmful gambling. 

The announcement of the gambling education sessions also falls on Safer Gambling Week in the UK, during which many gambling industry stakeholders are coming together to highlight the resources available to players to help them stay in control of their gambling as well as provide them with advice.

Karim Virani, Chief Commercial Officer at Rangers FC, stated: “We realise the importance of safeguarding our players and staff and allowing them to discuss issues relating to the sector in a welcoming and understanding environment.

“That the sessions are led by former football players is a big advantage, going beyond discussing the rule book and adding that key element of relatability. We’re grateful to Kindred – with whom we have a positive, long-term relationship – for funding the sessions that are helping us lead the way in Scotland on this matter.”

Michelle Evans, Senior Sports Partnerships Manager at EPIC Risk Management, added: “Education is at the heart of EPIC’s offering, underpinned by real-life experiences from those who have lived experience of gambling-related harm.

“We recognise the importance of the sector to the UK’s leisure industry, and we’re dedicated to providing a bespoke, holistic service that allows participants to share and discuss matters in a safe way. We’re delighted that Rangers are the latest high-profile football club to recognise the importance of protecting their players and staff through preventative education.”

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