Player Protection: Regulations Create Fair Standards in Gambling

The gambling industry continues to grapple with optimal player protection. A year-long study, conducted by 1xBet in partnership with SBC Insights, now sheds light on the complex realities of this issue. The goal was to analyze the current state of player protection, both geographically and from a player education perspective.

The study, titled "International Player Safety Index" (IPSI), examined three key regions: Western Europe, Africa, and Latin America. Operators were surveyed about the protection tools they provide and the quality of regulations. The results show significant differences in approaches, making a universal strategy difficult to implement.

Numbers and facts

Results from Latin America were particularly striking. There, 63.6% of operators feel local regulations provide clarity on safer gambling policies. An impressive 69% of operators use real-time activity monitoring, while 34% even use AI to track player behavior for safer gambling. Additionally, 56% of providers stated they curtail or alter their advertising to protect players.

Simon Westbury, Chairman of 1xCare, emphasized that Latin America has surpassed Western Europe in the use of player protection technologies. However, he stressed that regulations should not be left solely to operators.

"Outside of Western Europe, safer gambling and player protection tools aren’t enshrined in the regulation. Sitting here as an operator, you may not believe I’m saying this, but I don’t think it’s ever a good idea when player protection is left to the operator. I think it needs to be ingrained in any regulatory environment just to give a common standard." - Simon Westbury, Chairman of 1xCare

In Western Europe, regulatory inconsistencies were identified as the biggest problem. Approximately 70% of respondents stated they vary their approach to player protection significantly, while 30% tried to remain consistent. Despite genuine attempts to provide a best-in-class player protection environment, participants viewed the regulatory landscape as presenting too many stumbling blocks. In Africa, player protection is particularly insufficient, with few clear definitions or regulations. Many players there view gambling as a form of income generation, which is a dangerous misconception.

Background

Research has shown that player protection is one of the core pillars of a sustainable gambling industry. The 1xCare initiative, a non-profit organization, was launched by 1xBet to promote research, education, technology, and support services in player protection. Simon Westbury leads this organization. The aim is to find a more balanced approach to gambling research and to use technologies in a way that is not intrusive.

Other studies underscore the need for tailored protection measures. An annual event by Svenska Spel emphasized that protection measures must be adapted to different age groups. Furthermore, mandatory limits are more effective than voluntary ones. Patrik Lindner, a psychologist at Stockholm University, highlighted that even effective safeguards might cause players to migrate to unregulated sites lacking such protections. Allwyn has also announced a project to fund player safety research, underscoring the growing trend among industry players to invest in this field.

Why it matters for German players

For German players, these findings are particularly relevant. Since the introduction of the Gambling State Treaty 2021 (GlüStV 2021), strict rules apply to online gambling in Germany. Operators holding a German license from the Joint Gambling Authority of the Federal States (GGL) are bound by these regulations. These include a maximum stake of 1 Euro per spin on slot machines and a monthly deposit limit of 1,000 Euro, controlled by the central monitoring system LUGAS.

These mandatory limits and comprehensive monitoring ensure that players in GGL-licensed casinos enjoy significantly higher protection than on unregulated sites. The embedding of player protection in regulation, as advocated by Westbury, is already a reality in Germany. While "regulatory inconsistencies" are often mentioned in Western Europe, the German market, through the GGL, offers an exemplary, coherent system. Players should therefore always check if an online casino is on the GGL whitelist to ensure the security and protection of their data and gaming behavior.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

For GGL-licensed casinos, this means they are already implementing most of the measures called for by the study. German regulations stipulate strict requirements for player protection. These include detailed information about responsible gaming, the ability to set individual limits, and self-exclusion options via OASIS. The use of technologies for behavioral analysis is also permitted within German laws and is employed by many GGL casinos to identify problematic patterns early. The demand for a "common standard" is largely met in Germany by the GlüStV 2021. This creates fair competition and builds trust among players. Ongoing research, such as that conducted by 1xCare, will continue to provide important impulses to continuously improve these standards.