The European Casino Association (ECA) would like to thank the American Gaming Association (AGA) and Global Gaming Business magazine for the opportunity to contribute to Responsible Gaming Education Month. The initiative is strongly supported and endorsed by the ECA and its members.
At present, Europe does not boast an over-arching responsible gaming program that encompasses all countries at an international level, though individually many countries have similar initiatives, and all adopt best practices concerning player protections. It is the responsibility of all casino operators to offer the highest levels of customer protection above those mandated by respective government legislation.
In response to the lack of an overarching initiative within the EMEA, in 2014 the ECA adopted its own Responsible Gaming Framework, built on best practices and a European-wide exchange of information. This standard aimed to enable ECA members to have their casinos certified by independent auditors, ensuring compliance with this industry benchmark. The standard is regularly updated based on the experiences and learnings from previous years. The standard is currently under review, with a new version slated for publication in 2024. Throughout the creation process, the ECA collaborates with leading researchers in the field of responsible gaming, guaranteeing that the criteria of the standard remain pertinent and up-to-date.
The establishment of an industry standard for responsible gaming offers numerous advantages. First and foremost, it ensures a consistent and transparent approach to addressing social and ethical issues associated with the gaming industry. By implementing the ECA standards, casinos can demonstrate their commitment to responsible gaming, leading to improved public trust and a stronger reputation. The standard also serves as a benchmark for casinos to measure their performance in creating and promoting a healthy competitive environment that encourages ongoing improvement and innovation.
The importance of audits conducted by independent auditors cannot be overstated. Independent auditors offer objectivity and expertise, which are crucial in assessing a casino’s compliance with industry standards. By having their operations audited, ECA casinos can identify areas where they excel and areas that require improvement, ensuring that they maintain the highest levels of responsible gaming. Independent audits also boost public trust, providing an unbiased assessment of a casino’s adherence to responsible gaming practices. Furthermore, these audits allow the ECA to mitigate risk while fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
To date, the number of casinos and ECA members that have received the ECA’s Responsible Gaming certificate totals over 100 from 11 different countries, with 16 major European casino groups participating in the scheme. The list includes Casinos Austria, Veikkaus Oy, JOA, Merkur Spielbanken Sachsen-Anhalt, Spielbanken Niedersachsen, Brandenburgische Spielbanken, Merkur Spielbanken NRW, Baden- Württembergische Spielbanken, Spielbank Berlin, Schaanwald Casino, Casino 2000, SBM – Monte-Carlo, Casino Barcelona, Casino Tarragona, Casino Peralada, Casino Las Palmas, Casino Valencia, Marbella Casino and Casino Lloret, Casino Cosmopol and Holland Casino.
ECA Board Member and Holland Casino CEO, Petra de Ruiter, who is leading ECA’s Responsible Gaming Working Group is currently revising the ECA’s Responsible Gaming Framework. Here she updates on progress to date.
- The ECA is revising its position paper this year regarding responsible gaming, what can you tell us about the elements you’re introducing/updating? Will the ECA’s Responsible Gaming Standard also be revised – is there a timescale for this?
“We are working hard, but we’re still at an early stage. Things we are looking at:
- How to learn and adapt across multiple countries—regulatory development is not in step across Europe, so it is important to map what we can learn from the front-runners in certain areas.
- Information, information, information. A player with rational beliefs will take responsibility. How can we make sure that we positively impact the rational beliefs of players? This includes giving more information to players to make sure they are well informed about the volatility of games and the risks involved. And we must use new technologies to achieve this.
- The role of affordability—the discussion about gaming is increasingly looking at the incorporation of affordability into prevention measures. We recognize that people should play only with what they can afford. At the same time, we see that players are also increasingly aware of their privacy rights. We must strike the right balance between these two factors, taking into account that from a scientific perspective, affordability is just one important piece of information that helps inform safer gaming practices.”
- How has the role of RG changed since the ECA’s policy was first introduced in 2014?
“I’ve been in the industry for only two years, but I see that across Europe the focus upon RG has increased strongly. I see strong commitment from all members to invest in deeper knowledge about prevention, from both a scientific perspective and in taking a leading role in addressing problems and investing in RG. I believe this is a strong foundation upon which to evolve the ECA’s position on Responsible Gaming.”
- What does RG best practice look like across the membership of the ECA? Are there any initiatives that you’d highlight for special mention?
“We should look more to research concerning effective prevention and legislation. A great example is Play Positiv, introduced by Michael J.A. Wohl and colleagues. The method stresses that we should focus on informing and protecting the more than 95 percent of players with no problems and low risk of developing problems, so they remain low-risk. For the 5 percent, we should have all measures in place, but a large part of the job is to positively stimulate healthy gameplay within this group.”
- Why are initiatives such as the AGA’s Responsible Gaming Education Month worthwhile in your view?
“The ECA believes strongly in the principle of a social license, granted not by governments, but as part of a mutual contract with the communities in which we operate to be accepted by society. Only the implementation of effective and efficient responsible gaming measures will ensure the protection of vulnerable customers, but also create a positive public perception, which forms the basis for a prosperous and sustainable future for single operators and the whole sector.
“In times of around-the-clock availability of gaming products, efficient, effective and verifiable responsible gaming measures are of utmost importance to address the negative impact of uncontrolled, unregulated and unprosecuted growth of unlicensed gaming offers on society. In this respect, the ECA would like to state that more needs to be done to distinguish between operators with meaningful and effective responsible gaming programs and operators that are simply window dressing and flat-out misleading their customers and authorities about their responsible gaming measures.”
At ECA member casinos, responsible gaming measures and processes cover at least the following areas:
- Prevention of problem gaming
- Employee training
- Quality assurance of processes and measures implemented
- Cooperation with counselling and treatment institutions
- Exchange of best practices with other ECA members
This is a collection of measures that are divided into several areas aiming to ensure a pleasant and fun gaming experience for all customers during each visit. The framework is set up in a way that allows for certification of proper implementation by independent auditors. With this approach towards responsible gaming the ECA and its member casinos set an example for the whole industry.
To foster a culture of responsible gaming, it is vital to implement policies and practices that prioritize player protection and well-being. This includes setting limits on gaming time and expenditure, providing self-exclusion options, and offering support and resources for players who may be experiencing gaming-related issues. By promoting responsible gaming behaviour, the industry can create a more sustainable and ethical environment for all participants.
In addition to player-focused initiatives, the ECA encourages collaboration between industry stakeholders, regulators, and governments to develop and implement effective responsible gaming measures. This may involve sharing best practices, conducting research, and raising public awareness about the importance of responsible gaming. By working together, the gaming industry can create a more transparent and accountable landscape, ultimately benefiting consumers, operators, and the wider community.
In conclusion, responsible gaming is a critical aspect of the licensed gaming industry that requires the commitment and collaboration of all stakeholders. By promoting responsible gaming practices, providing support and resources to players, and fostering partnerships between industry members, regulators, and governments, the ECA and its members can ensure a safe, enjoyable, and sustainable gaming environment for all participants.
