The research team at Seven Jackpots, a leading Indian online casino comparison & analytics platform, has observed that “the actual use of safe gaming tools usually corresponds to the share of problem gamers” in most gambling markets around the world.
This is of course valid for jurisdictions that have such safe gaming tools available.
Also known as responsible gambling tools, these user protection mechanisms have taken the shape of mandatory policies prescribed by the law in countries that have regulated gambling.
In Brazil, for example, recent operator data reports show that 2.1% of players have opted for self-exclusion or permanent account closure, and 0.4% are using a temporary cool-off break.
Sweden has a total population of 1 crore, 80% of which are adults, and half of them gamble. At the same time, more than 80,000 people have self-excluded, which even exceeds the estimates on problem gamblers in that country.
Typically, problem gambling behaviour is displayed by between 0.5% (Sweden) and 3.3% (Canada) of active gamblers in mature markets, the researchers point out.
On the other hand, in countries like India, where games of chance are officially banned in most states, gambling activities, however sizable (estimates speak of $130 billion annually being bet illegally in India) are predominantly carried out on the black market, where principles quite different from those of responsible gambling apply.
In such markets, users can access a safe gambling environment on internationally licensed casino online platforms, but should avoid any shady sites and apps that do not have clearly visible information about their license on their main page.
For comparison, the problem gambling rate in India is as high as 7.2% of all gamblers and is comparable to the rate in unregulated Australia, Seven Jackpots Editor-in-Chief Felicia Wijkander highlights.
A major problem for non-regulated markets is the low levels of awareness about responsible gambling mechanisms and how they work. Informing and educating the public about the risks that can be associated with gambling and betting and the ways to protect oneself is fundamental for any nation-wide effort to curb gambling problems.
The Seven Jackpots research paper dedicated to the topic titled “What Is a Responsible Gaming Policy? Methods, Tools, and Achievements” lists all common safe gaming tools that can be found at licensed casinos and explains how they work.
Another practical problem is that many people think responsible gaming tools and policies are intended only for those who already have developed a gambling addiction or some other issue, or are for some reason vulnerable to risk.
“That cannot be farther away from the truth as users that do not recognize the sensitivity of these issues – or do not identify their own status correctly – might ignore RG advice and tools,” the Seven Jackpots research paper stresses.
Morre data from the study on responsible gaming reveals that a total of 66% or two thirds of players in mature and regulated gambling markets expect a certain degree of social responsibility from the games they play.
More than a quarter have declared a neutral stance, and only 8% have said that social responsibility involvement would not influence their choice of what games to play or not.
Effective responsible gaming policies start with raising risk awareness, go on to creating a safe gaming environment, and then provide help to those who need it, so in terms of ordering priorities we have prevention, mitigation, and treatment.
“A framework regulation can ensure the integrity of the industry as well as the legitimacy of domestic operations. With RG as a guiding principle, lawmakers could justify online gaming as a healthy sector to provide jobs and increase tax revenues while protecting consumers. Even more relevantly, a transparent and ethical gaming industry generates the necessary public funding for authorities to monitor and control the market,” the Seven Jackpots research team concludes.
“Put simply, an RG-based approach to online gaming regulation will look good in political campaigns and work well in practice.”