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In the UK, gambling is regulated because it’s addictive. Most gamblers do it for fun, but for a small percentage of them, gambling is a compulsion that can have serious negative consequences.
Responsible gambling is more than just a buzzword in the industry. It refers to the ability of a person to set limits, adhere to them and monitor their behaviour. They can also take preventative or reactive measures to any gambling harm that may occur. Even casual gamblers can practice responsible gambling.
All UK-licensed gambling companies have the responsibility to protect their customers from harm caused by gambling. It is also good to educate them about gambling addictions and responsible gambling tools to help manage their gambling.
Operator Responsibilities
According to the Gambling Commission, there are three main pillars for gambling licensing and regulation within the UK:
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The gambling industry should not be associated with crime
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The process should be fair and transparent
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Gambling should not be allowed to harm children or other vulnerable people.
In points two and three, the player protection principles are enshrined – the right of the player to a fair product as well as protection for those who may be vulnerable. Compulsive gambling is a major vulnerability. The Gambling Commission’s regulations on safer gambling include:
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Transparency to consumers and conditions of fair terms and transparent practices
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Adhering to advertising and marketing standards
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Contributing via the Statutory Levy
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Rules on how to handle accounts that show signs of abuse or behaviour deviations
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Preventing underage gambling
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Self exclusion provisions
UK operators must therefore be committed to responsible gambling. VSE is just one of the safer gambling tools that players can use. Deposit limits, timeouts and reality checks are also available as tools. Slot sites and casino must adhere to advertising regulations and standards, including ‘begambleaware.org,’ T&Cs, and 18+ messages.
GambleAware is one of the UKGC’s partner services. GamCare is another prominent UK-based NGO.
Tools for Responsible Gambling
The NHS estimates there are 400,000 “problem gamblers” in England, despite operator responsibility and the provision responsible gambling tools.
All reputable online casinos offer players tools for responsible gambling, as well as support, information, and links to organizations such GamCare.
All reputable UK betting sites offer players the option to set a limit that cannot be changed within 24 hours. They also provide play time reminders and cooling-off periods to help break a gambling cycle. You can find out more about the tools for responsible gambling and how to use these here.
The effectiveness of voluntary self-exclusion
GAMSTOP is the UK-based self-exclusion program for online casinos. The UK land-based counterpart to SENSE is SENSE. Self-exclusion, the most restrictive tool of the Responsible Gambling box, is self-exclusion.
Players who are already suffering from gambling harm or have concerns about their gambling habits and want to stop all communication and access to gambling services for a period of six months to five years. This gives gamblers the space they need to cut back on compulsive behaviors and regain control.
GAMSTOP, however, has some problems. The online system received significant criticism, especially after the BBC revealed that players were able to change small account details like a last name and re-register with online casinos. GAMSTOP blamed the problems on the lack of national ID systems, meaning that the exclusion was dependent on the matching between the information GAMSTOP provided and the information held by the online casinos. The report also highlighted issues with MOSES, the land-based equivalent of GAMSTOP.
Some players who used the scam have explained how to avoid it. They have mentioned using a different account number and gambling offshore, searching for non-GAMSTOP websites, etc. This is evident from the increase in searches for non-GAMSTOP sites (and other related terms), and affiliates who target these terms. This also shows that players who are vulnerable are forced offshore to avoid being banned.
A study published in 2023 showed that the length and type of self-exclusion affects its effectiveness. There has been very little research done on the subject.
This research was designed to counter this by using secondary data sets analysis of 3,203 UK real-world gamblers that had VSE between Jan 2021 and August 2022. The study found that those who had a break up to 38-days returned to gambling while those who had taken VSE for a longer period of time did not. Researchers concluded that shorter VSE sessions were less effective at preventing future gambling. In addition to shorter VSEs, being female, gambling more often, placing more wagers, playing less game types, or having a smaller number of deposits each day were positively associated with a return.
IPSOS conducted a smaller scale study (which included 30 follow-up interviews with original participants who had VSE three years later) that showed the effectiveness of VSE to stop gambling. “Many of the interviewed individuals were still involved in one or more self exclusion schemes at the time of interview.” Researchers found that most participants felt more in control of their gambling behavior.
VSE is not only a question of whether it works, but also of how it relies on self-identification, and the desire to change one’s gambling habits. Both of these are in conflict with the compulsive and deceptive nature of addiction. The Gambling Commission highlighted the difficulty: “Harms can occur at different levels of gambling participation, and it can even be addictive.” In these situations, relying on individuals to change their behavior is unlikely to be successful .”.
If a casino employee is unable to inform a customer that they are causing harm, then it’s their responsibility to explain and highlight the behaviours flagged by the staff as being risky. They should also encourage and offer the use of safe gambling tools and services.
A multi-layered approach
VSE is a useful tool to help those with gambling addictions. The industry has backed VSE, and GambleAware CEO stated that: “Self exclusion is a last option for people struggling with gambling. This is why tools like GamStop are so important.” These tools are most effective when used as part of an individualised treatment plan.
Bank blocking is a modern, successful method of gambling prevention that can be easily implemented. It’s recommended alongside self-exclusion software and online blocking. Bank blocking is a simple way to stop online gambling. Several UK banks offer this service.
GamBan, a service that prevents gamblers from gaining access to gambling sites, is also free. Since its launch, more than 12,700 people have signed up for it. TalkBanStop is the recommended way to use GamBan. It’s a program that was created in partnership between GamBan and GAMSTOP. This program uses GamCares advisors and GamBans blocking technology, as well as GamStops self-exclusion lists to create a multilayered support approach.
The future self-exclusion programs and player protection services
Profit is often put before player safety in an industry where a small number of players make up the majority of profits. (A Guardian report showed that 83% of deposits came from only 2% of customers at one operator.) It is evident that VIP schemes are abused and high wagering requirements are imposed on consumers, leading to excessive play. Excluded players have also been targeted by promotions and allowed to gamble again. It is important to note the role that NGOs and third-sector organisations play in this area.
The UK gambling market is changing due to an increasing regulatory environment (plus, the introduction of a new statutory levy for gambling operators that will fund responsible gambling research and educational programs) and a growing industry which is more aware of the damage and exposure caused by the industry. (Almost 20 years after the 2005 Gambling Act, widespread gambling has made the treatment of gambling dependence ‘public health’ issue).
It is clear that the impact of advertising and messaging promoting responsible gambling has paid off. More players are now saying they prefer gambling websites with a stake in their safety and security. The advent of AI in player safety has made gambling operators better at detecting signs of gambling harm.
It is clear that the tools for responsible gambling are not performing as well as they could. They need to be redesigned so that players can easily implement them and that they are more effective in preventing gambling. Operators and gambling charities must come up with new methods to educate and engage players in a multi-layered approach. The new statutory levy is expected to bring in much-needed funds for gambling charities and research.
Casinos must find a balance between the attractiveness of advertising, promotions and bonuses, and the importance placed on player protection in order to ensure the long-term viability of the industry. Slot bonuses and online casino sites with no wagering requirement are the most fair and customer-friendly and meet this need. There’s much more work to be done.
