do player protection regulations help players, or do...

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 non-

tournament 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

Pretty good!

Providing time and money limit tools yes

Providing useful RG information yes

Monitoring Player Behaviour yes

Being proactive in reaching out to help players yes

Signposting to help services yes

Training for staff yes

Quality control/risk assessment system no

Denmark 4/7

OK

Providing time and money limit tools yes

Providing useful RG information yes

Monitoring Player Behaviour no

Being proactive in reaching out to help players no

Signposting to help services yes

Training for staff yes

Quality control/risk assessment system no

Northern Territories, Australia 3/7

hmm…. Could do better!!

Providing time and money limit tools yes

Providing useful RG information Mostly

no

Monitoring Player Behaviour no

Being proactive in reaching out to help players no

Signposting to help services yes

Training for staff yes

Quality control/risk assessment system no

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 yes

Monitoring Player Behaviour yes

Being proactive in reaching out to help players yes

Signposting to help services yes

Training for staff 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?