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UK Gambling Commission and industry collaboration makes progress on safer gambling

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UKGC: Experts by Experience interim group created
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  • Under 25s to be restricted from joining VIP schemes
  • Tightened controls to be introduced for other VIP customers
  • Online advertising rules strengthened to better protect vulnerable groups
  • Progress made on safer product design but industry must go further

Collaborative work with the industry has led to progress following three challenges laid down by the Gambling Commission to make gambling safer and reduce harm across the sector.

The work will lead to restrictions and prevention of under 25s being recruited to VIP schemes, a reduction on intensity of play such as the speed of spin and removing turbo buttons, and a joint effort to shield children and young people from online gambling advertising.

The Gambling Commission welcomes the recommendations made by the industry on safer products but challenges the industry to go further.

This new approach to accelerate progress to protect consumers from gambling harm was set by the Commission’s chief executive, Neil McArthur, in October 2019. Working groups made up of senior leaders from the industry were formed in January 2020 – concentrating on use of VIP incentives, safer advertising online and the use of safer product design.

The Industry working groups featured over 30 operators, co-ordinated by the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC).  As part of this work, the Commission ran workshops with people with first-hand experience of gambling harm, as well as collaborating with GamCare to ensure that its service users’ experience would also help inform any outcomes.

Those involved in the work will continue to develop and rapidly implement the proposals, with some measures around VIP customers being implemented as soon as April 14.

The Commission will now launch formal consultations on these areas to ensure that the new measures are incorporated into its regulatory framework – which means that all operators will have to abide by the new consumer protection rules.

Neil McArthur, Gambling Commission chief executive said: “We have been encouraged by the progress on VIP incentives, safer advertising and safer products.  We set these challenges in order to deliver real and rapid change for consumers in key areas of risk. However, it is important these commitments are implemented as soon as possible. It should not take months to implement safeguards many would expect to be in place already. 

“By working together with operators and seeking the views of people with lived experience of gambling harm we have been able to make significant progress, although there is always more to do. We will now consult on the necessary changes to our rule book to ensure all operators have to meet the new standards.

 “Whilst we are encouraged by industry proposals for making gambling products safer we now call on operators to implement those proposals rapidly; but the proposals do not go far enough and we will now consider what additional measures we should impose on operators. 

 “I recognise that the Covid-19 outbreak will impact on next steps and actions, in particular land-based operators. I welcome the fact that the operators involved and the BGC have remained committed to progressing this work during these difficult times. That is a positive sign of their commitment to make the industry safer.”

“Ultimately actions speak louder than words and any operator that does not put consumer safety first will find itself a target for enforcement action.”

Industry progress so far in these areas, and the Gambling Commission’s response and next steps:

Use of VIP incentives

This group was established to develop an industry code which addressed poor practices around the treatment and incentivisation of high value and high spending customers also known as ‘VIPs’. The industry has agreed to:

  • Restrict and prevent customers under 25 years of age from being recruited to high value customer schemes.
  • All customers must first pass thorough checks relating to spend, safer gambling and enhanced due diligence before becoming eligible for high value customer incentives.
  • Reward programmes will also be required to have full audit trails detailing decision making with specified senior oversight and accountability.

The Gambling Commissions response:

  • The Commission will now consult on permanent changes to the Licence conditions and codes of practice (LCCP).
  • The Commission expects the industry to implement its code as soon as possible and considers most measures should be implemented within 3 months.
  • The Commission will monitor and support implementation of the industry’s code as an interim measure.


Safer advertising online

This Advertising Technology challenge was aimed at reducing the amount of online advertising seen by children, young people and vulnerable adults. Actions taken immediately by the industry and to be in place by July 2020 include:

  • A common list of negative search terms (e.g. how do I self-exclude from gambling?) and suppression websites, which will help shield vulnerable groups from online gambling ads.
  • Better and more consistent use of customer data to ensure paid-for-ads are targeting away from vulnerable groups across social media platforms, instead of targeting for business
  • Implement an approach which means that advertising is only targeted at +25 age in social media and “Pay Per Click” advertising where platform facilities permit. This will protect young people and increase confidence in the social media platforms’ own age-gating
  • Age-gating YouTube channels and content
  • Adopting and rolling out to all affiliates a code of conduct which will be amended and updated on a regular basis to ensure all measures undertaken by the industry will be implemented equally by affiliates.

These measures will be adopted across the industry as soon as possible and in any event enshrined in the IGRG’s Gambling Industry Code for Socially Responsible Advertising (subject to consultation with Bingo Association and BACTA) and effective by July 2020.

Further, the Working Group will:

  • Establish a permanent cross-industry Adtech Forum to ensure an on-going focus on making further progress in this area, including conducting and evaluating trials of advertising technology.
  • Continue the proactive engagement with a wide range of stakeholders (including platforms) on agreed areas of work, with the aim of continually setting the highest standards in responsible digital advertising and marketing and ensuring that all relevant technology is utilised to achieve that.
  • Work with the Gambling Commission to publish and promote consumer advice, and work with online platforms and broadcasters to identify a more effective, simple and consistent approach, with regard to blocking gambling advertising.
  • Commit to monitoring and evaluating all actions to ensure only effective solutions are pursued.

The Gambling Commission’s response:

  • The Gambling Commission’s view is that the industry has developed an appropriate set of commitments which should help further limit exposure to online gambling adverts by vulnerable groups.
  • The Commission recognises that the online advertising ecosystem is complex, and some progress will be dependent on third parties, such as the social media platforms. In these instances, we expect industry to work collaboratively with the platforms to identify and implement further solutions.
  • By virtue of their inclusion in the Gambling Industry Code for Socially Responsible Advertising, The Commission will now hold operators to account for these commitments from July.


Safer products

These groups were tasked with developing an industry code for responsible product and game design.  Industry commitment from this work so far includes:

  • A minimum spin speed of 2.5 seconds on all slots.
  • Removal of game features which may encourage intensive play such as slam stops and turbo buttons.
  • Removal of split-screen slots which have been associated with potential loss of control.
  • A more detailed work plan which will include in-game messaging and the creation of a Betting and Gaming Council Testing Lab to look into other game features.
  • Publication of the final code in September 2020.

The Gambling Commission’s response:

  • The Gambling Commission’s view is that while some progress has been made, this work must now go further and faster, in particular around using demographics and behaviours to indicate risk.
  • The Gambling Commission will now consult on the priority areas for immediate action as soon as possible.

Brigid Simmonds, Chairman of the new standards body the Betting and Gaming Council said: “I am pleased with our members’ hard work and continued commitment to delivering substantial progress on the three safer gambling challenges set by the Gambling Commission on high value customers, advertising and game design. The progress reported today including restricting under 25’s from qualifying for high value customer accounts; strengthened advertising rules and games with slower speeds and the removal of some functionality comes despite difficult operating circumstances during the COVID-19 crisis. These measures, along with our recently announced 10 pledge action plan for COVID-19 safer gambling and our 22 industry safer gambling commitments will significantly transform and improve the environment for our customers and the wider public.  We agree with the Gambling Commission that there is still more work to do and we will rise to the ongoing challenge.”

This update coincides with the publication of the Gambling Commission’s 2020/21 business plan which includes commitment to driving forward these areas of work in regulatory requirements for the whole industry.

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Alexandra Botez Unveiled As GGPoker’s Newest Brand Ambassador

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Celebrated chess player and content creator turns her talents to the world’s favorite card game

 GGPoker, the World’s Biggest Poker Room, proudly announces the addition of Alexandra Botez to its prestigious GGTeam. Known globally as a top-tier chess player and revered streaming personality, Botez brings her exceptional strategic insight and charismatic presence to the world of poker.

As a member of GGTeam, Botez will represent GGPoker both on and off the virtual felt, showcasing her talent and passion for the game to audiences worldwide. With her unique blend of analytical prowess, quick thinking, and engaging personality, she is set to make a significant impact in the poker community.

Botez was born in Dallas, TX, and raised in Vancouver, Canada, and her journey to poker parallels her rise in the world of chess. From a young age, she exhibited exceptional talent and dedication, earning the title of Woman FIDE Master and becoming a prominent figure in the chess scene. Her strategic mindset, honed through years of intense competition, seamlessly translates to the poker table, where she employs similar tactics to outmaneuver opponents and secure victories.

Botez streams chess and other content alongside her sister Andrea on their Twitch channel, which boasts over 1.3M followers, and she will now share her ongoing poker experiences with her fans.

“I’m so happy to be on Team GG!” said Alexandra Botez. “They share my vision for growing the game, and I’m excited to embark on this journey together.”

Daniel Negreanu, leader of GGTeam and a fellow Canadian, expressed his excitement about Botez’s addition, stating, “I’m really happy to have Alexandra Botez on the team; she is a top-notch chess content creator who’s documenting her journey into poker, and it’s a lot of fun living vicariously through it! I’m sure her progress will be very relatable to many poker players and lovers of all games. We are thrilled to welcome her to GGPoker and look forward to achieving great success together.”

As Botez makes her debut as a member of GGTeam, fans can expect thrilling gameplay, insightful analysis, and entertaining content across GGPoker’s platforms.

New GGPoker players can claim the poker room’s Welcome Bonus, earn even more rewards with the Honeymoon for Newcomers promotion and automatically join GGPoker’s Fish Buffet loyalty program, with regular cash prizes on offer.

Visit GGPoker on social media for updates and exclusive events featuring Alexandra Botez as she takes the poker world by storm.

Follow Alex on Twitch.

To learn more about the GGTeam, please visit: ggpoker.com

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New online casino will be promoted by GiG’s CasinoOnline and AskGamblers brands to players in the country as it looks to drive sign ups at scale

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Winlandia, the online casino with a Nordic twist, has signed an exclusive agreement with GiG Media to promote the brand to players in Denmark. The move comes after Winlandia made its debut in the country earlier in the month. 

Under the agreement, GiG Media will promote Winlandia to Danish players via its flagship CasinoOnline.dk, CasinoSpiller.dk and AskGambers sites. It will do this exclusively for the next few weeks before Winlandia will work with other semi-exclusive affiliates in the market.

Winlandia plans to leverage its position as the newest online casino in Denmark and combine this with CasinoOnline and AskGambler’s positions as two of the leading affiliate brands in the country to engage players at scale and drive quality traffic through the doors of its online casino.

This is the third market that Winlandia and GiG have entered into such a partnership having done the same when the casino made its UK and Sweden debuts last year.

Winlandia, which is powered by SkillOnNet, promises players a top-rated online casino experience that captures its Nordic heritage and combines it with plenty of Finnish Sisu. This includes the payment methods available with both Trustly and MobilePay in the cashier for fast deposits and payouts.

Players are also offered generous bonuses and access to more than 2,752 slot and casino games – an increase of 1,000 titles from when Winlandia entered Denmark a month ago.

Christoffer Grönlund, Head of Acquisitions & PR at Winlandia, said: “We are thrilled to once again be working with our friends at GiG Media as we look to drive awareness of Winlandia among players in Denmark. Demand for new online casinos is always high, and AskGamblers does a great job of engaging players searching for new brands.

“This partnership comes off the back of a similar agreement in the UK and Sweden where the result of the collaboration far exceeded our expectations. We look forward to enjoying similar success in Denmark, and to welcoming players to Winlandia for the first time.

“We really do offer a highly entertaining casino experience and something a little different to the other brands in the market thanks to our Nordic heritage.”

Marcel Elfersy, Chief Commercial Officer at GiG, added: “We love to see new online casinos launch in thriving markets such as Denmark. Winlandia offers a unique player experience that we know will be a big hit with those who come to AskGamblers in search of the latest casinos to play at.

“This deal builds on the successful partnership we already have with Winlandia, having achieved incredible results for both parties in the UK. We look forward to taking this to the next level in Denmark where we believe Winlandia will be a big hit with players.”

Katarina Stojanovic, Head of Affiliates at GiG, added: “We have had the pleasure of launching Winlandia Casino on several licensed markets in Europe, the latest one being Denmark. Christoffer and the Winlandia team have been very helpful throughout the process, and we are very pleased with our partnership.”

 

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Summon Magical Wins and Enchanting Bonuses with Dragon’s Dawn

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Brace yourselves for a magical gaming experience with the new Dragon’s Dawn slot from Stakelogic

Prepare to be enchanted and amazed as you explore a magical kingdom and launch an array of spellbinding bonuses in the Dragon’s Dawn slot from Stakelogic. This exhilarating new title flies into online casinos on March 26th, 2024.

Players are summoned into the heart of the mythical Light Realm, where they are accompanied by a Grand Wizard as they spin the reels and attempt to get their hands on the slot’s 7,500x maximum win.
The action begins in the Light Realm, where players can spin an enhanced 6×6 game grid that uses a Scatter Pay gameplay mechanic. Winning combinations are formed when players land eight or more matching symbols anywhere across the reels.

There is plenty of magic afoot in the Light Realm, with three unique reel modifiers able to trigger at random. The Lighting Strike can replace one winning symbols with one or more full stacks of matching symbols, the Meteor Show can add extra Wilds to the grid, and the Portal Reel provides access to a magical portal that switches non-winning symbols for new ones.

What’s more, the slot uses the innovative Avalanche wins mechanic, removing winning symbols from the grid and replacing them with new ones. A progressive win multiplier is also applied, increasing by one on each Avalanche and resetting when no new wins are formed.

The Light Realm is not the only magical land that can be explored. Landing four or more Bonus symbols will trigger the Free Spins round and transport players into the heart of the Dragon’s lair in the Fire Realm. Four, five, or six Bonus Symbols will trigger 8, 12, and 15 spins, respectively.

Braving the Fire Realm can reap huge rewards for players, with the progressive multiplier remaining persistent throughout the spins. Players can also conjure up further spins by landing four or more Bonus Symbols during the round.

Dragon’s Dawn lands on virtual casino shelves with multiple configurations, with a maximum RTP of 96%. Stakelogic rates the game as highly volatile. In selected markets, players will be able to purchase their way into the Free Spins bonus.

Daniela Fricchione, Head of Account Management at Stakelogic, said: “Our goal when creating online slots is to provide our players with a magical gaming experience, and what better way to do that than to transport them to not one, but two magical realms. Dragon’s Dawn gives us a chance to flex our creative muscles and build a world we believe our players will find hugely enjoyable to spend time in.

Of course, the slot is also loaded with bonus features, with the three reel modifiers keeping the base game exciting, the combination of free spins and the global multiplier is sure to get pulses racing. “

 

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