Popular online casino and bingo site PlayOjo has announced the launch of Safe Mate, a tool based on Neccton’s mentor player protection system to help cement the company’s image as ‘the fair online casino’. The move brings the market-leading problem gambling identification tool to PlayOJO customers in Spain, Sweden and the UK.

PlayOJO – the fair online Casino and Bingo site, powered by SkillOnNet – is now using Safe Mate, which allows customers to track how much money they have deposited, how much money has been wagered and how much time has been spent on the site over the last six months.

The new tool, developed in collaboration with behavioural scientists and psychologists, tracks player data, detects risk patterns, changes in behaviour and flags signs of potential problem gambling. It acts as a Safer Gambling assistant for each player that visits the site and gives them a health score and friendly nod when their habits are changing.

In addition, Safe Mate allows players to compare what they think they have spent with what they have actually spent. And if a player is considered at risk, they are given personal feedback and tailored communications to help prevent problem gambling from occurring.

Dr Michael Auer, director at Neccton, said: “Yet another of Europe’s top casino brands have recognised the value of our software. It gives us great satisfaction to know that players are really being cared for by operators – and that those same operators recognise that a well looked-after player is one that can play for a longer time without developing unhealthy habits.”

Peter Bennett, Head of Brand at PlayOJO, said: “We are delighted to partner with Neccton to offer our players this state-of-the-art new Safer Gambling tool. We pride ourselves on being the fair online Casino and Bingo site and will continue to find new innovative methods and tools to help promote safe play for our customers.”

Zitro’s popular Link King arrives at the prestigious Casino Neuchâtel, in Switzerland, being the first time that this product, which has generated a global impact, has arrived in the Central European country.

French gaming giant La Française des Jeux (FDJ) has reported a year-on-year rise in revenue and stakes during its first quarter, despite continuing restrictions on retail activity related to the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

Total revenue for the three months to March 31 amounted €537.6m, up 5.2% from €511.2m in the same period last year. Gross gaming revenue was up by 5.1% year-on-year to €525.9m, while revenue from other activities jumped 10.7% from €10.6m to €11.8m.

FDJ said the rise in revenue was driven by an increase in stakes, with players spending a total of €4.6bn, up 11.8% from €4.11bn in Q1 of last year, despite the operator facing longer restrictions related to the pandemic than the same period in 2020.

However, despite the limitations, player spending was up across all areas of the group, most notably in sports betting, where stakes hiked 46.1% to €1.1bn, helped by the return of the traditional sports calendar after disruption in the latter part of Q1 2020.

Lottery remained FDJ’s main source of income with stakes here rising 3.8% to €3.46bn, or 10.0% when excluding the Amigo game, which is offered in bars. FDJ said the closure of bars and other Covid-19 measures had a significant impact on Amigo, with stakes down 50%.

Draw-based game stakes were up 2.6% year-on-year to €1.3bn, while instant games stakes also increase 4.6% to €2.1bn

In terms of where customers were gambling, land-based operations remained the most popular source, with stakes here rising 5.7% to €4.0bn, despite the restrictions. Digital stakes jumped 64.7% to €1.4bn as more players turned to online during the quarter.

Players won a total of €3.20bn gambling with FDJ during the quarter, up 13.7% from €2.81bn in the same period last year. This left €1.40bn in gross gaming revenue and after paying €915.7m in public levies, revenue stood at €537.6m.

“Despite the enduring impact of the health situation on the environment, the first quarter confirmed the good trends in our business, with stakes exceeding the levels recorded before the crisis,” FDJ chairwoman and chief executive Stéphane Pallez said.

“After reaching almost 10% of our global stakes in 2020, digital stakes continue to grow at a strong rate whereas our network activity is maintained. The events program for lottery and a busy sporting calendar, including Euro 2021 in football, should allow this momentum to continue in the months to come.”