Protection of vulnerable gamblers

One of the most important areas of Responsible Gambling is concerned with the protection of vulnerable players. Some players may become addicted to casino games or sports betting activities and by spending too much money their normal lives are soon affected.

Among the main measures that can be imposed by most regulators in the industry, we can mention gambling-self-exclusion programs, limits on the amount of money and time players can spend on a gaming website. At the same time, each particular country imposes its own regulations, such as UK, where our company integrated a few months ago a new reality check functionality that applies to all UK licensed vendors. This reality check facility makes it possible for players to set a frequency to receive a display of the time elapsed since the session started, which offers gamblers the chance to set a limit to their losses and exit the gambling website.

All the same, we implemented many other tools to assist players enjoy responsible gaming sessions, such as the possibility to set financial limits to their accounts. For instance, to avoid potential hasten decisions, an increase in their deposit limit will not take effect until a period of 24 hours.

Another aspect related to gambling-self-exclusion has been implemented in Denmark and it’s related to the possibility to exclude oneself from all online gambling activities in the country. Players may do this by registering in the Register Over Frivilligt Udelukkede Spillere (ROFUS).

Who is a vulnerable adult?

Adults may be vulnerable if, for example, they are taking certain types of prescribed medication which may impair their judgement or prevent them making informed, balanced decisions about gambling; or if they are intoxicated from misusing drugs or alcohol.

If an adult has mental health issues, a mental impairment or problems with addiction, they may also be vulnerable as they may have difficulty controlling their activities or behaviour, or understanding the players’ guides to games.

What are the risks to vulnerable adults?

If vulnerable adults are not supported within the gambling environment they may be at risk of:

• gambling beyond their financial means
• problems with addiction
• financial exploitation
• causing, or being a victim of dangerous, abusive or threatening behaviour
• physical, emotional or accidental harm.

These difficulties may have a serious impact upon the person’s relationships, home life or employment.

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