Insight UK RESPONSIBLE GAMING
responsibly, to tackle problem gambling and to ensure a duty of care towards every customer.
“We recognise growing concerns that some
customers are spending too much money or too much time on gaming machines. We want to take steps to protect them. Because one problem gambler is one too many. That is why we have put together the Code, which introduces revolutionary new harm minimisation measures, the likes of which have yet to be seen anywhere in the world.
“The industry has come together as one to
promote responsible gambling. It is united in a fierce commitment to help vulnerable people. That is why the measures that the Code introduces go above and beyond regulatory requirements.
“We believe the measures strike the right
balance between protecting customers without stopping the enjoyment of the 8 million people who play on gaming machines without any problems.”
Carl Leaver, CEO of Gala Coral Group, commented: "Gambling is a leisure activity enjoyed by millions of people, the vast majority of which experience no problems at all. However, for some people, there are risks associated with all gambling products, and machines are no different in this respect. We want all our customers to be able to enjoy gambling safely and that is why we are introducing a range of measures to help them monitor and control their gambling. We have also completed a huge training programme to better equip our teams to offer support and advice when it is needed.
This new Code of Practice will be built upon as we learn more about problem gambling through the world-leading research being conducted by the Responsible Gambling Trust, an independent charity funded by voluntary donations from the industry. All bookmakers have given full access to machine play data at a transactional level and, where available, customer level to ensure that this research will be truly ground-breaking in improving our understanding of problem gambling and how we can act to minimise potential harm."
Ralph Topping, CEO of William Hill Plc, said: "During our 80 years in business, William Hill people have always displayed a strong commitment to social responsibility. Our latest commitment, the ABB code, has been 12 months in creation, and the final stages will be rolled out shortly, giving further impetus to the promotion of responsible gambling across all betting shop products."
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Luke Alvarez, CEO and Founder of Inspired Gaming Group.
“Inspired takes its social responsibilities seriously and, as a major supplier of gaming machines to bookmakers, we do not want problem gamblers playing on our machines. We welcome the introduction of these best practice measures in responsible gambling and have worked tirelessly to implement them as quickly as possible. However, we know that the machines in bookmakers are not the highest income machines we supply and that problem gamblers typically engage in up to nine forms of gambling.”
Andy McCue, Head of Retail (UK & Ireland) at Paddy Power said: “At Paddy Power we take our social responsibilities very seriously. Although for the vast majority of our customers gambling is a fun and enjoyable pastime, we are very aware that a small minority develop problems. The best way to minimise potential harm is to put punters firmly in control of their gambling and ensure our staff are on hand to provide information about where to get treatment and support when it is needed. The Code measures help do just that and are significant in the industry’s efforts to help tackle problem gambling.”
Luke Alvarez, CEO and Founder of Inspired Gaming Group, said: “Inspired takes its social responsibilities seriously and, as a major supplier of gaming machines to bookmakers, we do not want problem gamblers playing on our machines. We welcome the introduction of these best practice measures in responsible gambling and have worked tirelessly to implement them as quickly as possible.
“However, we know that the machines in bookmakers are not the highest income machines we supply and that problem gamblers typically engage in up to nine forms of gambling. These best practice measures should be introduced across all Category B gaming machines in the UK, including AGCs and Casinos.”
The Institute of Economic Affairs have released a statement saying: "The sensible 'nudge-style' measures in the new code should help the small
minority of compulsive gamblers without unduly hindering the enjoyment of the majority. All gambling activities inevitably attract problem gamblers. Fixed odds betting terminals are just the latest gambling product to become the focus of a moral panic. There are no magic bullets and prohibition never works, but the betting industry has responded with sound harm reduction measures that we can support."
INDUSTRY-WIDE MEASURES Inspired Gaming and SG Gaming, the leading
suppliers of gaming technology and machines in the UK, have welcomed the launch of the first phase of responsible gambling measures on Category B2/B3 gaming machines in bookmakers, and are pushing for the mandatory introduction of these measures across all categories of UK gambling.
Luke Alvarez, of Inspired, further commented: “We do not want problem gamblers playing on any of our machines and the new measures are a positive first step in our long-term development roadmap to better protect the 0.5% of problem gamblers in the UK and to minimise the risks to all gamblers.
“However, it makes no sense to target bookmakers’ machines specifically – those vulnerable to addiction will still be at risk with other venues, products and channels and we urge the Government and Regulator to work with stakeholders on how it can develop the concepts and learnings from the ABB Code for Responsible Gambling and Player Protection (ABB Code) across all UK land-based and online products.”
Steve Frater, Chairman of SG Gaming, said: “We are committed to providing a fun leisure experience for those who enjoy playing on machines, whilst developing new ways to protect those who are at risk of harm. We have been able to develop and deploy new player protection measures in under five months since the publication of the ABB Code in September but see this as only the first step in achieving world leading player protection software through continuing research and development.”
Inspired Gaming and SG Gaming supply technology and machines to UK bookmakers including William Hill, Ladbrokes, Coral, Betfred, Paddy Power and hundreds of Independent bookmakers. Working closely with the Association of British Bookmakers (ABB), problem gambling academics, and bookmakers, Inspired Gaming and SG Gaming have designed on-machine technology solutions to achieve the objectives of the ABB Code.
The ABB Code came into effect March 1, 2014.
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