EGBA outlines essential measures for igaming operators

The European industry association has detailed seven measures operators should follow to protect customers.

Belgium.- The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has outlined a series of “essential measures” it says  gambling companies should rigorously apply to protect their customers as it seeks to reaffirm the industry’s commitment to high safeguards.

The EGBA said it was publishing the measures in order to enhance the industry’s standards at a time when European countries are facing a second wave of Covid-19 restrictions.

It advised that gambling companies need to be extra vigilant on how they promote safer gambling and protect their customers during the pandemic.

Secretary-general, Maarten Haijer, said: “The reintroduction of coronavirus restrictions poses significant challenges for Europe’s society. 

“This guidance is intended to help fellow citizens and provides an opportunity for gambling companies to demonstrate their willingness to take responsibility during these challenging times.

“These are simple but essential measures which all gambling companies should adopt to protect their customers, step up their social responsibility efforts and ensure their advertising is conducted in an ethical and responsible way. We urge all online gambling companies to adhere to them.”

The EGBA announced the following guidelines

• Advertising should not refer to the coronavirus, coronavirus-related public health statements and/or any other coronavirus-related developments.
• Advertising should not portray gambling as a solution to boredom or social, personal or financial problems.
• Advertising and websites should contain clear and visible information about minimum age restrictions, national problem gambling helplines and self-exclusion registers where possible.
• Websites should contain robust and rigorously enforced identity verification measures to verify the identity of new customers and prevent minors from gambling.
• Websites should contain clearly sign-posted safer gambling tools – such as deposit limits, time outs and self-exclusion tools – which customers can use to manage their gambling activity.
• Customers should be closely monitored for problematic gambling behaviour and the companies step up direct safer gambling interventions with their customers when appropriate.
• New customers should be duly informed of safer gambling tools when they sign up.

The EGBA has been pushing for higher standards in the industry. In an interview with Focus Gaming News earlier this year, Haijer said the industry needed to clean up its act.