Christoffer Grönlund, Co-Founder and Head of Affiliates at Winlandia, takes a deep dive into all things safer gambling as he outlines why player protection is necessary to create a more sustainable industry.
Responsible gaming has, quite rightly, been a major talking point within the betting and casino industry over the last few months.
Regulators in markets across the world have turned their attention towards player protection. Quite often, this has involved the introduction of mandatory deposit limits, enhanced KYC checks and – in some jurisdictions – restrictions on how, where and when you can advertise gambling products.
The UK is mulling over legislation to ban front-of-shirt sponsorships from gambling brands, while Ontario has strict regulations regarding bonus offers and promotions. These are just two of the many examples of markets that have tightened their grip on advertising – there’s no doubt that more markets will follow suit in years to come.
This shift in attitude towards gambling advertising has been bubbling under the surface for quite some time. Technology advances have meant gambling is now more accessible than ever; you can visit many different apps with a few quick taps on your mobile phone, not to mention the growing number of TV, radio and online advertisements.
Simultaneously, there has also been a growing public awareness of the potential risks that are associated with the gambling industry.
As an industry, I believe that we have a responsibility to prioritise player safety – this is not only the right thing to do, but from a commercial perspective, it helps to build both trust and credibility.
Negative publicity related to lacklustre responsible gambling practices can have hugely detrimental impacts on your brand’s long-term reputation. At Winlandia, we have made sure that responsible gambling and player protection are at the front and centre of everything we do.
A technology-led approach
For us, technology can play an integral role in not only delivering an exciting experience for players but can also play a key role in effectively monitoring bettors’ behaviour and intervening when they may display signs of problem gambling.
It may be a major talking point at industry conferences, but this is where artificial intelligence comes in handy. From a behavioural analysis perspective, AI and machine learning can help speed up and streamline the pattern identification process, pinpointing whether a player may be gambling outside of their financial means.
At Winlandia, we have tapped into AI technologies to deliver much more personalised, targeted marketing campaigns. This has allowed us to restrict bonuses and promotions to players who may be at risk of problem gambling, and instead, increase the volume of safer gambling-focused communications.
The data that we have collected from monitoring player betting patterns has also helped us improve the accuracy and effectiveness of our intervention strategies, giving us the opportunity to step in at the first signs of any problems.
When incorporating safer gambling measures into your products, gambling companies must balance player protection with the creation of an entertainment-led experience. For some, this might sound like a challenge. But at Winlandia, I’m confident that we’ve managed to achieve this.
But how have we done this? Good question. For us, content is key. You firstly need to make sure that the content available on your site is engaging, interactive and informative regarding the safer gambling tools that are available on your website.
The other major consideration is how you frame your safer gambling messaging. Ultimately, if you portray responsible gambling as something that is burdensome, it’s going to deter players. You need to show that responsible gambling is a key component of the overall fun and enjoyment of gaming – a safer experience is much more sustainable, and more enjoyable in the long-run.
Responsible gambling tools and messaging needs to also be embedded into your brand in a way that is non-intrusive. If you can achieve this and empower players with a range of tools and resources to manage their own gambling behaviours, then this will encourage them to stay with your site.
Looking ahead
It would be naïve to think that the road to creating a more sustainable industry is without its bumps. With ever-changing regulations and a growing threat from the black market, alongside increasing concerns regarding data privacy, we need to make sure that we are at the forefront of positive change.
But I do think that over the last few years, we have made some considerable progress in prioritising player protection and adapting our marketing to create a safer, more enjoyable environment for all.
By investing in new technologies to enhance responsible gambling measures, and collaborating with local regulators and stake holders, we can continue to develop best practices.
At Winlandia, we will continue to educate our players on the importance of responsible gambling and the tools available to them.
We remain strongly committed to corporate social responsibility by supporting initiatives focused on safer gambling. In 2024 and beyond, player protection will continue to be our top priority – and we can’t wait to see what the future brings!
