Following the publication of its new handbook to guide the gaming industry when it comes to ensuring compliance with responsible gaming standards, the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) highlighted Safer Gambling Week from the 18th to the 24th of November.
According to the entity, this is a good opportunity to recognize the important work being done by the sector.
8th edition of the event and the importance of responsible gaming
Organized by the BGC, BACTA (Betting and Gaming Council Alternative Testing Agreement) and the Bingo Association, Safer Gambling Week is in its 8th year in the UK.
Once again the event will feature a series of safer gaming messages, both online and in physical locations. All of this in an attempt to increase the national conversation about responsible gaming.
Andrew Rhodes, chief executive of the Gambling Commission, said: “Ensuring safety must always be paramount to all aspects of gambling. However, Safer Gambling Week offers a valuable chance to further emphasize this priority.”
“It also allows operators to exchange best practice, helping to make gaming in Britain one of the safest experiences in the world.”
Grainne Hurst, Chief Executive of the BGC, added: “Safer Gambling Week aims to showcase the safest gambling tools that exist in the regulated sector throughout the year to ensure that the millions of people who enjoy gambling regularly continue to do so. it in a safe and responsible environment.”
“Previous years have shown that this campaign leads to increased use of these popular safer gaming tools such as time-outs and deposit limits.”
Safer Gambling Week and ensuring social responsibility standards are met are also vital for affiliates, with imperative steps being essential to ensure traffic is safe.
Affiliates are the first to pass on the concept of responsible gaming
Safer Gaming Week and ensuring compliance with social responsibility standards are also vital for affiliates. Therefore, essential measures are necessary to ensure that traffic is safe.
Andrew Lee, COO of QiH Group, stated: “As a company focused on generating high-quality, responsible gaming traffic to our operator partner websites, safer gaming is an everyday consideration for QiH Group.”aming is an everyday consideration for QiH Group.”
“We recognize Safer Gambling Week as a valuable opportunity to stay engaged with the broader industry conversation and hear from the community about responsible gambling.”
“As affiliates are often the initial point of contact for customers, our priority is maintaining a safe and compliant environment that benefits our partners and, ultimately, their customers. We believe in supporting a balanced approach where gaming remains what it should be: safe and enjoyable entertainment.”
Educational messages on machines during Safe Gambling Week
The BGC wants to ensure that land-based casinos are incisive in their safer gaming messages. Therefore, the new guidance directs casinos to reinforce safer gaming messages on all slot machines.
Operators must dedicate at least 20% of the images on the top screen of slot machines to educational messages. This, of course, when the functionality of the game and the machine allows it.
Additionally, one strategy calls for safer gaming messages to appear on slot machine receipts (called TITO). So casinos will be promoting safer betting and advice on how to stay in control, including the National Helpline phone number.
Therefore, these measures will apply to all diverse members of the BGC and will include:
- Casinos, very popular with tourists
- Bookmakers on busy streets
- Online gaming operators