Knowing When to
Fold ‘ Em
Innovation in responsible gaming technology gives players more resources than ever By Dave Bontempo
Slowly , inexorably , an enlightened message greets gamblers , vendors and the wagering industry . It has begun resonating , reaching higher pitch and sounding like a normal disclaimer across gambling floors and hand-held apps : please , gamble responsibly .
Operators , and the vendors who supply their products , embrace the rising industry conscience .
All sides find a sweet spot to tout restraint without discouraging business . Acceptance of that theme breeds creativity across the board . Consider : Player-controlled time , wager and loss limits , along with resource information placed on websites , indicate one form of sophistication . Commercials involving NFL coaches and responsible gambling game plans are another .
A disclaimer precedes major segments of the Betting Exchange and Bettor Half Hour , televised nationally on the Madison Square Garden network . Before hearing analyst opinions , gamblers hear a prerecorded announcement about wagering responsibly , on every show . This is high-profile reinforcement of an important theme .
Amid that backdrop , vendors manage to embed products into the apps of operators , who consider them good business and insurance against a potential backlash from regulators .
Whyte Notes Improvement , Seeks More
Keith Whyte , the executive director for the National Council on Problem Gambling , thinks the gaming industry can target a substantial borderline segment .
Whyte says 75 percent of players encounter no problems . One percent might always struggle and should consider giving up gambling entirely .
That leaves 24 percent of gamblers , representing “ billions and billions of dollars ,” a prime target for the industry ’ s enhanced educational tools , he asserts .
“ The industry in general continues to make strides ,” he says . “ There is an increasing consensus that responsible gambling is important . We are seeing more indications that it ’ s also important to put your money behind .
“ Most online operators have an extensive suite of responsible gaming tools . The challenge is that many customers still aren ’ t using them . “ Some in the industry are doing a great job and others are doing little or nothing . I prefer to think of this as the glass being half full .”
Whyte , who celebrates 25 years on the job in October , has seen numerous advancements in the last quarter century . More may be coming .
“ There is emerging evidence coming from Europe that customers who engage with responsible gaming tools are more sustainable in the long term ,” Whyte asserts . “ That may boil down to customers not being burned out by chasing losses and also knowing that the people they are playing with are looking out for them .”
Whyte believes customers who set their own limits with the help of a casino or website will support the measure more than one that comes from a government body .
Some problem-gambling roots are based in mathematical probability , he adds . Whyte says a 2021 survey reveals that the number of verticals one plays is strongly associated with problem gambling .
Customers who engage in 10 or more verticals , ranging from bingo to lottery , sports betting , blackjack and casino games are five times more likely to develop problematic factors . Fantasy sports is another wild card , linking with the same elements known to day-trading on Wall Street .
Just as a salesperson always closes , Whyte is always stressing some fundamental point about responsible gaming .
One involves the four quadrants of problem gambling . A player may have a problem if he or she :
• Lies about gambling
• Feels restless and irritable while playing
• Relies on others to pay bills
• Needs to gamble more for the same feeling of excitement
• Gambles while intoxicated
• Makes a large deposit , even two , in the wee hours of the morning
• Gambles too rapidly
• Chases to get even Due to the industry ’ s education efforts , more of these problems are coming to light and being addressed .
44 Global Gaming Business AUGUST 2023