Do player protection
regulations help players, or do
we need a 'CE' mark for global
gambling markets?
Malcolm Bruce, Director Gambling Integrity
CE Mark?
Conformité
Européene
An easy way of seeing that…..
The ‘manufacturer’ has checked that products
meet EU safety, health or environmental
requirements and is declaring, conformity
with them
Do we need a global CE mark for gambling
products?
Given that player protection regulations in
gambling are very mixed and that gambling
markets are global
And that
Regulation to tackle gambling related harm is often
too far behind industry developments
Then the answer is yes!
My argument defending this claim
Context: Encouraging players to play
safely is not easy!
The best methods of player protection
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Providing RG tools
Useful RG information
Monitoring Player Behaviour
Being proactive in reaching out to help players
Signposting to help services
Training for staff
Quality control/risk assessment system for new games and
marketing material
Some examples of online regulation
UK: License Conditions Codes of Practice
(LCCP)
ITALY: Governance of games of skill and
games of chance with fixed odds and nontournament card games with remote
participation - Guidelines for the certification of
gaming platforms 2010
Denmark: Executive Order No. 67 of 25.
January 2012 on online casinos1
How good are international
regulations?
Criteria We Used to answer the question
1. Providing time and money limit tools
2. Providing useful RG information
3. Monitoring Player Behaviour
4. Being proactive in reaching out to help players
5. Signposting to help services
6. Training for staff
7. Quality control/risk assessment system
UK 6/7
Providing time and money limit tools
Providing useful RG information
yes
yes
Monitoring Player Behaviour
yes
Being proactive in reaching out to help players
Signposting to help services
yes
yes
Training for staff
Quality control/risk assessment system
yes
no
Pretty good!
Denmark 4/7
Providing time and money limit tools
yes
Providing useful RG information
Monitoring Player Behaviour
Being proactive in reaching out to help players
Signposting to help services
yes
no
no
yes
Training for staff
Quality control/risk assessment system
yes
no
OK
Northern Territories, Australia 3/7
Providing time and money limit tools
yes
Providing useful RG information
Monitoring Player Behaviour
Being proactive in reaching out to help players
Mostly
no
no
no
Signposting to help services
Training for staff
Quality control/risk assessment system
yes
yes
no
hmm…. Could do better!!
But does any of this mean anything?
• Good standards mean nothing if they are not
enforced
• Companies do not get scrutinised under tight
regulatory regimes (they are risk-based systems)
• Even then, reviews are specific to the area of
concern
Example: UK
• Highest standards of regulation (codes of
practices)
• Largest companies have good systems in place
• BUT…..
• The standard of compliance is generally poor
• High profile prosecutions of large companies
A solution
• Accreditation systems like G4 and iCAP offer
scrutiny of player protection and RG systems IN
DETAIL, every year!
• They set evidence based standards that
governments can be encouraged to follow when
either permitting gambling for the first time or
revising outdated legislation
• Consumer recognition and confidence is the
challenge
Global Gaming Guidance Group
Europe - online
Bettson 6/7
Providing time and money limit tools
yes
Providing useful RG information
Monitoring Player Behaviour
yes
yes
Being proactive in reaching out to help players
yes
Signposting to help services
Training for staff
yes
yes
Quality control/risk assessment system
no
USA ONLINE
Final thoughts
• Regulation of RG is improving BUT is always
too far behind industry developments especially
technology
• Accreditation systems are responsive to
industry developments provide detailed scrutiny
• It's not easy being a regulator!
• Both accreditation and regulation are post hoc
solutions – primary legislation determines
what is permissible and will make the biggest
impact on consumer protection
Conclusion
• A well publicized gambling CE mark
would help gambling consumers
• But good regulation that enforces sensible
primary legislation is ALWAYS needed
• Time for Europe and the US to cooperate?