Accessing Responsible Gambling Information from Casinos: Two Secret Shopper Studies Journal of Gambling Studies

By implementing these practices, affiliates can elevate their role as gatekeepers of a safer gambling ecosystem. She highlighted statistics showing 25 percent of young people in the UK began gambling before the age of twenty-one, with many encountering gambling products as early as fifteen. Dubnicka argued affiliates must take a stronger stance on user safety, adopting tools like age verification to prevent underage gambling. While implementing these measures may require additional costs and effort, she stressed that the investment is necessary to safeguard users and the industry’s reputation.

Gamblers who value responsible gaming should be cautious of casinos that show no visible commitment to player well-being in this area. The absence of any auditing certification, particularly from recognized agencies like eCOGRA or iTech Labs, should also raise concerns. While not all credible casinos necessarily use these specific agencies, the lack of any independent game fairness verification is a potential red flag, especially for casinos offering a wide range of digital games. If a casino claims to be audited by an independent agency, check for a clickable logo and verify the certification directly on the agency’s website. Be wary of generic “fair play” seals or certifications from unknown or unrecognised agencies. Reputable auditing agencies are well-known within the industry, and their certifications carry weight.

The panel praised individual platforms that have successfully integrated many of these features, making them part of a seamless user experience. Charles Gillespie, Gambling.com’s CEO, on the other hand, noted that all shareholders in the US iGaming market must understand the critical role of affiliates in helping operators grow. Mark Frank Pedersen, Better Collective’s chief executive officer of NA said that his team is doing everything possible to empower the industry and promote gambling as entertainment. He praised the opportunity to join forces with other affiliates and promote better standards and guidelines. Before entering each casino, customers were randomly assigned to the role of actor or observer, and the sequence of approaching each employee was also randomized.

Using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS; Version 29), descriptive statistics were computed for call duration, time spent on hold, and the number of employee interactions. Comparisons between the first and second calls to each casino were used to assess the reliability of the information provided. By systematically following this checklist, gamblers can move beyond superficial website appearances and delve into the verifiable https://roobetofficial.com/ affiliations that truly indicate a casino’s credibility. This proactive approach significantly reduces the risk of playing at unreliable or unethical casinos. Licensed casinos are typically required to publish information about their RTP percentages and house edges. Auditing agencies often provide detailed reports on their testing methodologies and findings, further increasing transparency.

The RGAA’s first move is to appoint a President to lead the Association, helping shape affiliate practices in the future, and ensuring the needs of its members are heard. We also recommend partnering with a results-driven casino marketing agency to help align your content and funnels with modern compliance standards while maximising performance. “It’s important to prepare proper information for players and use tools like Age Checker to ensure minorities don’t access the platform. A well-established name in the US, BetMGM UK launched in 2023 and now offers a polished platform that integrates both casino and sportsbook features.

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Plus, all UKGC-licensed gambling sites require debit-only usage (no credit cards) making Mastercard casinos both compliant and player-friendly. Each brand listed accepts Mastercard debit cards for instant deposits and fast withdrawals, while offering a mix of slots, table games and innovative features tailored for today’s players. At one casino, no floor employee appeared available to interact with the customer, and after waiting a reasonable amount of time, this interaction was omitted. This study explored customer experiences during telephone calls to casino customer service numbers requesting information about how to access RG information. The university’s Institutional Review Board determined this study was not human subjects research, as it explored interactions with businesses rather than individuals. Left unexplored is whether venues effectively provide customers with RG information when requests are made.

While not as stringent as licensing bodies or auditors, membership suggests a casino is willing to align itself with industry norms and be part of a community that values certain principles. Beyond licensing, credible casinos often affiliate with independent auditing and testing agencies. These agencies specialize in evaluating the fairness and randomness of casino games, particularly the Random Number Generators (RNGs) that power slots and other digital games. They conduct thorough testing to ensure that game outcomes are truly random and not manipulated in favor of the house beyond the inherent house edge. Segal takes a realistic approach and acknowledges the days of insatiable growth are gone, but he still sees great potential in the market. Affiliates need to expand their services to keep up with the evolving demands of sports betting operators, focusing on longer-term customer acquisitions rather than adding masses of low-value players.

Entrusting an online casino with personal and financial information requires a high degree of confidence in its security measures. Regulatory licensing bodies impose strict requirements on casinos to protect player funds and data. These regulations often include measures such as segregated player accounts (ensuring player funds are kept separate from operational funds) and robust data encryption technologies. They reassure players that the casino is not operating in isolation but is subject to external oversight and scrutiny. Knowing that a casino is licensed, audited, and committed to responsible gambling can significantly enhance a player’s peace of mind. Comprising six major players in the United States onlinegambling affiliate sector, the RGAA includes Better Collective, Catena Media, Gambling.com Group, oddschecker Global Media, Spotlight Sports Group and XLMedia plc.

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Casino affiliations encompass a wide array of relationships and partnerships that casinos maintain with various external entities. These affiliations are not merely about business expansion; they are deeply intertwined with the operational integrity and the perception of fairness within the gambling ecosystem. These relationships can be broadly categorized into several key areas, each contributing uniquely to the overall fairness and player experience. Regulatory oversight is vital to safeguarding consumers, with governments implementing measures to restrict harmful advertising practices. Examples include the UK’s whistle-to-whistle ban during live sports and Australia’s strict guidelines to prevent targeting minors or at-risk individuals. Such regulations ensure marketing remains effective without exploiting vulnerable groups.

As intermediaries, affiliates influence user behaviour through the brands, bonuses, and content they promote. This pivotal position puts them in a unique position to enforce and encourage safe gaming habits, making them essential players in the drive toward a safer gambling environment. The recent Safer Gambling Week in the UK and Europe highlighted the industry’s commitment to fostering responsible gaming practices. This annual initiative serves as a vital reminder of the shared responsibility between operators, affiliates, and regulators to protect users and promote sustainable gaming habits.

• Affiliations with regulatory bodies, software providers, and auditors significantly enhance transparency in casino operations.
• Each state had millions of new customers that operators wanted to reach quickly, and unique regulatory constraints around marketing and betting.
• These companies must provide ongoing data and personalized marketing strategies to provide the best support to operators.
• Licensing authorities have the power to investigate player complaints, mediate disputes between players and casinos, and impose sanctions on operators that violate regulations.
• By showing a commitment to user safety, affiliates can distinguish themselves in a crowded market, particularly as regulators and operators increasingly favour partners with robust ethical standards.

Six US gambling affiliates form the RGAA

Mark Renshaw, Spotlight Sports Group’s CEO, also expressed his thoughts, noting that his team has always been at the forefront of responsible gambling. Not only is this the right thing to do for our customers, it’s the best thing to ensure the success and longevity of the industry and our businesses. Using Mastercard debit at new UK casino sites offers a mix of security, convenience and speed. Deposits are typically instant, protected by SSL encryption and Mastercard’s anti-fraud systems. Analyses were conducted using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 29 (IBM Corp., 2022). A frequency analysis was conducted for the information noted above, as well as the 7-point Likert scales used in Study 1.

Guides would explain how to sign up with a sportsbook and the difference between a moneyline and a point spread. That easy access to sports betting information made it more straightforward for a broader audience to get involved. Furthermore, RTP percentages, which indicate the average return a player can expect from a game over time, are also verified by auditors.

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Casino affiliations play a crucial, yet often underestimated, role in ensuring fair play within the gambling industry, impacting everything from game integrity to responsible gambling practices. For both seasoned veterans and newcomers to the world of online and land-based casinos, understanding these affiliations is key to navigating the gambling landscape safely and making informed decisions. While licensing provides the fundamental legal and regulatory framework, industry affiliations represent a further layer of assurance and commitment to best practices within the casino world. These affiliations are voluntary memberships or certifications from reputable industry bodies that promote ethical conduct, responsible gambling, and operational excellence. Affiliations often go beyond basic licensing requirements, pushing casinos to adopt higher standards and demonstrate a proactive approach to player welfare and industry improvement.

Affiliation with reputable auditors is a strong signal that a casino is committed to upholding fair play principles and operating with integrity. Affiliation with a reputable regulator is often the first and most important indicator of a casino’s commitment to fair play. Casino licensing is the regulatory process by which governmental or independent bodies authorize casinos to operate legally. Licensing jurisdictions, such as the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) or the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), impose stringent criteria that casinos must meet to obtain and maintain their licenses.

Reputable casinos partner with well-known and respected software developers like NetEnt, Microgaming, Playtech, Evolution Gaming, and Yggdrasil. Look for logos of independent testing agencies like eCOGRA, iTech Labs, or GLI, which certify game fairness and RNG integrity. These certifications provide assurance that the games have been independently tested and meet industry standards for fairness. Information about software providers and certifications is usually found in the casino’s “About Us” section or game details. For players seeking a fair and trustworthy gambling experience, understanding casino affiliations is paramount. By knowing what to look for and how to interpret affiliation indicators, players can make informed choices and select casinos that prioritize fair play and player protection.

Casinos that are serious about fair play also affiliate with responsible gambling organizations and charities. These affiliations demonstrate a commitment to player welfare beyond just regulatory compliance. Organizations like GamCare, Gamblers Anonymous, and BeGambleAware provide support, advice, and resources for individuals struggling with gambling-related problems. Casinos that partner with these organizations often contribute financially to support their work and actively promote responsible gambling messages on their platforms.

Allowing them to contact businesses and facilities at any point in time (Lepp et al., 2013). As such, it is paramount for casinos to provide accurate information and a positive customer experience across such an accessible and task-oriented mode of communication. Unfortunately, the present project found that customers are likely to end a call without desired information and with the impression that the casino operator does not value RG. Using a secret shopper methodology (Rankin et al., 2022), two studies were conducted where investigators posed as customers seeking RG information to explore customer experiences in accessing RG information. Study 1 involved using casinos’ advertised customer service numbers to request RG information, whereas Study 2 involved in-person visits to the same casinos to request RG information. The most significant red flag is the absence of a license from a reputable regulatory body.

Rapid technological advancements, particularly in online gambling and emerging technologies like blockchain and cryptocurrency, pose new challenges for regulators. Regulators are adapting to address issues like online gambling fraud, cybersecurity, and the use of cryptocurrencies in gambling transactions. Industry affiliations are also playing a role in developing standards and best practices for new technologies, helping to bridge the gap between innovation and regulation. These case studies exemplify how industry affiliations complement licensing by promoting higher standards and demonstrating a casino’s broader commitment to ethical and responsible operations.

This ensures that casinos are not misrepresenting payout rates and that games are operating within expected parameters. Game integrity certifications provide players with confidence that the games they are playing are fair and operate as advertised. We drive more new players to online casinos and sportsbooks, based all around the world, through our expert casino marketing agency and iGaming media buying agency services.