SBC News

Dr Michael Auer, Managing Director at OpenBet’s Neccton
While significant strides have been made, Dr Michael Auer, Managing Director at OpenBet’s Neccton, suggests there is a need for a uniform and proactive approach to player protection.

A call for standardisation

The UK is largely viewed as a leader in responsible gaming best practices, but there is still no uniform approach among operators. When identifying problematic patterns of play, methods can vary significantly depending on the size and preferences of individual companies, leaving room for players to slip through the gaps.

Some operators will opt to use third-party responsible gaming tools, while others choose to police themselves and apply their own algorithms. Standardisation would be beneficial in ensuring scoring systems and thresholds are at a universal level, to avoid discrepancies in how risk is identified.

Spain is an example of how specific laws around player protection are effective. A risk score, based on the ..

The Belgian Association of Gaming Operators (BAGO) has revealed a worrying statistic that further shows why the recent under-21 gambling ban adopted by Belgium was a well-timed step.

After Belgium’s Chamber of Representatives backed a decree endorsed by Minister Stefaan Van Hecke to overhaul the Belgian Gambling Act 1999, the country’s gambling authority – Kansspelcommissie, introduced new player protection measures by raising the minimum gambling age to 21.

The updated texts also significantly limited the ability of licensed operators to advertise to consumers, which BAGO cautioned that if the government subsequently looked to pursue a total ban on advertising, it could lead to consumer confusion about the legal options on the market.

However, the age limit on play seems to be completely in line with the trade body’s long-term vision for the sector. A new study commissioned by BAGO has revealed that over half of men aged between 18 and 21 had participated in illegal gambling pri..

A group of acting students from Walsall saw themselves on the silver screen as part of a project to raise awareness of gambling harms among young people.

GamCare and Ygam ran a competition for the younger generation to submit ideas for an awareness-raising film – which it has said will be freely available to schools and professionals.

The winning film, called The Gamble of Youth, was first shown last week at a private screening at a Birmingham cinema. It demonstrated the risks and potential harms of gambling in a way which also encouraged young people to speak out about their issues and seek help from professionals.

Nicole Barklam, Events Manager at GamCare, stated: “It’s inspiring to see young people take such an active interest in the harms that gambling can cause, and to be able to raise further awareness of the support options available, should anyone need it.

“We’re so pleased to see the level of effort that Thespian Arts have gone to in order to bring this important productio..

To begin last week’s SBC Digital – Player Protection online conference, Vixio explored four of the latest trends in player protection policy.

Affordability checks – when not if
Affordability checks have been the “dominant topic” of UK gambling policy and Joe Ewens, Gaming Compliance Managing Editor for Vixio, explained that it is a case of “when, not if” for markets globally.

From 30 August, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) began its pilot of frictionless ‘light touch’ financial risk assessments. Elsewhere, from 1 October operators in the Netherlands have also had to perform affordability checks linked to a system of deposit limits.

On the potential for expanded use of affordability checks, Ewens said: “From an operator’s standpoint, you can see that affordability checks are clearly a preferable option. It enables gamblers to potentially go past high deposit limits.

“But it’s also fair to say that that the concept has proved to be pretty controversial. Some [customers] don’t like ..

Montenegro will develop a “new legal solution for gambling,” as pledged by the Ministry of Finance, tasked with modernising the Law on Games of Chance.

The Ministry has begun consultations with key stakeholders, including the “public, media, state authorities, local communities, and businesses,” to discuss amendments and resolutions.

A new law is required “to establish safe and responsible gambling environments, foster sustainable growth in the gaming sector free from financial crime, and address public health and social concerns associated with gambling.”

The consultation process, which began on October 21 and was extended until November 25 due to high interest, will include a review of stakeholder suggestions to be incorporated into the final draft.

The key objective remains to establish a new legal framework to ensure fair competition among organisers, accompanied by enhanced supervision to enforce compliance with regulations.

Jovana Nišavić, State Secretary for Finance, stated..

The International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) has assigned Bluehouse Technology to update its global integrity monitoring network.

Part of IBIA’s long-term strategy of investing in technology to strengthen its fight against betting-related manipulation, the tech update developed in partnership with Bluehouse Technology will provide the integrity body and its members with more safeguarding tools to protect regulated betting markets.

It will streamline the identification and reporting of suspicious betting activity, unlocking faster response times to prevent potential integrity threats. The enhanced monitoring capacity will be supplemented by improved data analysis and alert data streams for key stakeholders, including gambling regulators – fostering deepened collaboration within the industry.

Sharmila Pillai, Director at Bluehouse Technology, said: “We are thrilled to have worked closely with IBIA to develop this new monitoring and alert platform. Our team worked hard to ..

In Belgium, the Federal Public Service of Justice (FPS Justice), has updated rules on enforcement to strengthen measures against illegal gambling.

The updated texts were placed under Article XVII.34/1 of the Economic Code, giving any relevant party the ability to exercise ‘extraordinary powers’ against potential market infringements/threats by filing a complaint with the Brussels Commercial Court.

Any party claiming to have identified alleged infringements related to the exploitation of illegal online games of chance—including private entities, “a management company or collective management organisation, or a professional or inter-professional association with legal personality”—can act unilaterally or as part of a collective petition to bring the issue before the court.

The President of the Brussels Commercial Court can then grant an interim order against a bad actor and any related intermediary to stop the alleged infringements – in the case that the “infringement appears clear ..

Belgium’s judicial system overseer, the Federal Public Service of Justice (previously Ministry of Justice), has updated the country’s framework to better accommodate measures against illegal gambling.

The updated texts were placed under Article XVII.34/1 of the Economic Code, giving any interested party the ability to exercise extraordinary powers against potential market infringements by filing a complaint with the Brussels Commercial Court.

Any party that claims to have found alleged legal infringement through the exploitation of illegal online games of chance – including private entities, “a management company or collective management organisation, or a professional or interprofessional association with legal personality” – can either act unilaterally or as part of a collective petition to raise the issue to court.

The President of the Brussels Commercial Court can then grant an interim order against the alleged infringer and any related intermediary to stop the alleged infring..

Ensuring that the needs of the individual are met shapes the foundation from which Gordon Moody is built. However, in addition to moulding treatment to the specific needs of each user, it is equally as vital that support is offered to loved ones.

This outlook, says PlayItForward, which first donated to Gordon Moody in July 2021, is crucial in ensuring that those on this path can focus on building their confidence and making improvements to their life.

PlayItForward is committed to creating partnerships with charities who support those affected by gambling harm, making sure that service users’ needs are prioritised.

In conversation with SBC News, Ryan Murphy, Gordon Moody Commercial Director, hones in on the importance of treatment, as well as looking into projects and services that have received a funding boost courtesy of PlayItForward, and how the industry can enhance its support of those suffering from gambling harms.

SBC News: Who is Gordon Moody and what services does it provi..