Creating great games that offer a memorable and enjoyable experience for players has always been at the heart of what we do.
Most people who gamble do so safely most of the time, but gambling can be harmful for some and can affect people negatively, be it as a result of excessive play, periods of loss of control or a more serious gambling addiction. The harm suffered affects many areas of life and is not restricted to the gambler. It is also felt by families, friends, communities and employers.
Despite the fact that as a software supplier we do not have a direct relationship with players, we want to put “Players First” when creating our games and have made this commitment one of our core business values. Responsible gaming therefore is a lynchpin of our business strategy and we consider it our duty and responsibility to take initiative as well as to support online operators in ensuring player safety as well as compliance with technical and legislative demands.
Examples of some of the measures we take to achieve this are:
- Ensuring game security, fairness and accreditation.
- Offering and promoting player protection tools enabling operators to implement responsible gambling controls in addition to the controls we expect our customers to have in place as licensed operators.
- Embracing positive change to enhance player safety through responsible game design, clear game rules and transparent communication in general.
- Supporting organisations involved in prevention, research and treatment of gambling-related harm.
- Adhering to relevant regulatory and advisory codes of practice to ensure responsible advertising and promotion.
- Training our staff to ensure an awareness and understanding of problem gambling issues as well as responsible game design and advertising.
- Collaborating with regulators, our customers, industry bodies and other partners to share and learn from experiences and work towards further increasing industry standards.
- Providing useful information to players visiting our website such as information on available responsible gaming tools, self-assessment tests, helplines, blocking software and where to find help in general.
Where to find information on problem gambling and available responsible gaming tools
Players will first and foremost be able to find information on problem gambling and available responsible gaming and self-exclusion tools on the casino operator’s responsible gaming help pages or by contacting the casino’s customer support team.
Other sources of information are websites such as www.begambleaware.org, www.gamcare.org.uk or www.gamblingtherapy.org. They offer a range of services including self-assessment tests, online chats and helplines in different languages. These services can be accessed 24/7 and conversations will be treated confidentially. Family members or other people who are concerned about somebody else’s gaming behaviour, can also find information on these websites, including information on where to find help locally.
Self-assessment and self-help
There are a number of websites such as the websites mentioned above that provide useful tools and self-assessment tests, which players can use to self-reflect on their gaming behaviour.
We are also a proud supporter of RecoverMe, a mobile health application designed to be a self-help tool for those who suffer from a gambling addiction. The app was designed with the help of psychologists, psychiatrists and those with lived experience of a gambling addiction. The RecoverMe app offers therapy in six easy to follow cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) sessions to empower players to overcome problematic play. The app also includes mindfulness sessions that have been curated to specifically manage urges to gamble as well provide a range of other benefits to users. On top of this the app has a diary which aims to improve player’s self-awareness and allows them to monitor their progress. The app also signposts users to organisations that may help their financial and health wellbeing as well as other tools that may help. An area within the app called SOS provides acute management strategies when people need it most.
The app can be downloaded here:
Content filtering and blocking software
Content filtering and blocking software can be used to block access to online gaming websites if players feel they do not have control over their gaming activity or if there is concern about protecting children and minors, e.g. because they live in the same household and may share computers or other devices with adults. Examples of providers offering such software are Gamban, Gamblock and Netnanny. Some banks also provide gambling blocks to their customers. For a list of financial services organisations in the UK that currently offer gambling blocks on debit cards see: www.gamcare.org.uk/block-gambling-transactions. Persons interested in limiting exposure to gambling advertising across social media platforms can find information about this on www.begambleaware.org/limiting-gambling-ads-online.
