ARGN president calls for AI-driven gambling harm prevention
Lebohang Masegoheng wants operators to use existing algorithms to intervene while harmful behaviour is happening, not after.
Key takeaways:
- ARGN president Lebohang Masegoheng is calling for greater use of AI and algorithm-based tools to identify and address harmful gambling behaviour as online betting expands in Africa.
- He highlights time spent gambling, increased spending and chasing losses as key behaviours that should trigger player-protection interventions.
- Masegoheng says operators already have access to technology to detect excessive time or money use and should act while harm is occurring, not after significant consequences.
- He is urging regulators to embed technology-based player-protection requirements in regulations and licence conditions, beyond tick-box compliance.
- The ARGN plans working groups on responsible gaming and aims to build continental research to support legislation and policymaking on gambling harm.
South Africa.- The newly appointed president of the African Responsible Gaming Network (ARGN), Lebohang Masegoheng, has called for greater use of artificial intelligence and algorithm-based tools to identify and address harmful gambling behaviour as online betting expands across Africa.
In a recent interview, Masegoheng, who is also advocacy and communications manager at the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation, said the increased accessibility of mobile and online betting was creating new challenges for player protection. He said players no longer needed to visit physical gambling establishments to place bets, while mobile platforms allowed gambling activity to continue around the clock.
He identified time spent gambling, increased spending and chasing losses as behaviours that should trigger player-protection interventions. Masegoheng said online betting operators already have access to technology that can help identify such behaviour and should make greater use of those systems as a preventative measure.
According to Masegoheng, operators can use these systems to identify when a player is spending excessive amounts of time or money on a platform or attempting to recover previous losses. He said operators should then provide prompts directing players towards counselling and treatment services while the harmful behaviour is occurring, rather than waiting until the player has suffered significant financial or other consequences.
He also urged gambling regulators to incorporate technology-based player-protection requirements into regulations and licence conditions. Masegoheng noted that responsible gaming should not be treated as a tick-box compliance exercise, arguing that operators should be required to make effective use of the player-protection mechanisms already incorporated into their online betting software.
The expansion of online betting operators across multiple African markets also highlights the need for greater consistency in responsible gambling standards, according to Masegoheng. He said companies can establish operations in one market before expanding into other regions, making cooperation between jurisdictions increasingly important.
He added that the ARGN would facilitate the exchange of knowledge and best practices among organisations working on gambling-harm prevention, counselling and treatment.
Although gambling regulations differ across African jurisdictions, Masegoheng said gambling addiction was a common challenge, creating scope for members to collaborate on prevention, treatment and policy development. The network’s immediate priority is to establish its working groups, which will focus on different areas of responsible gaming.
Masegoheng said the longer-term goal is to develop continental research and evidence on player protection and gambling addiction to support legislation and policymaking across African jurisdictions. He added that the findings would give policymakers a broader evidence base for developing measures to address gambling-related harm and protect players.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
- What is the ARGN president proposing on gambling harm? Lebohang Masegoheng wants operators to use AI and algorithm-based systems to detect risky play and intervene in real time with prompts to counselling and treatment. He says this should happen while harmful behaviour is occurring, rather than waiting for serious financial or personal consequences.
- Which behaviours should trigger player-protection interventions? He identifies excessive time spent gambling, increased spending and attempts to chase previous losses as key red flags. These patterns, he argues, are detectable with existing online betting software and should automatically trigger support measures.
- What role should regulators play, according to Masegoheng? He is urging gambling regulators to incorporate technology-based player-protection requirements into regulations and licence conditions. His view is that responsible gaming must go beyond tick-box compliance and mandate effective use of built-in protection mechanisms.
- What are the ARGN’s next steps on responsible gaming? The network’s immediate priority is to set up working groups focused on different areas of responsible gaming, including harm prevention, counselling and treatment. Longer term, it aims to develop continental research and evidence to support legislation and policymaking on gambling addiction across African jurisdictions.
