SG creates anonymous software to cut down problem gambling.
The online casino industry is one that never stops moving. From new games to new ways of keeping players safe , there’s always something changing and shifting in the gambling space.
An important factor that is always being reconsidered and updated is that of responsible gambling .
Being a “responsible gambler” may sound simple, right? How hard can it be to keep track of your budget and know when to stop? The fact is, safe gambling practices are about so much more than that.
Responsible and safe gambling takes place at the root – at the casino. It’s here that players can be protected from overspending, being encouraged to go into debt to chase down big wins, and so much more.
Big Changes for FOBTs Bets
The UKGC is one of the loudest voices in the industry right now, pushing for safer gambling practices far and wide. To make sure this happens, industry leaders need to come together and make the necessary changes.
Recently, the Anonymous Player Awareness System (APAS) rolled out at betting shops in the UK .
After the government decided to drop the maximum bet at fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) to only £2, these shops took a huge knock. However, the Anonymous Player Awareness System could make a big difference in keep players safe.
How does APAS work?
Scientific Games is one of the largest developers of FOBTs and they worked to create an intelligent system that could track potentially harmful playing behaviour.
The system works to spot players who may be chasing losses or placing increased bets despite losing .
Staff at the betting shop are alerted to the potential issue and pop-up messages will appear to caution the player. This is all done anonymously without the player’s details being shared or saved.
Commenting on this new technology, Scientific Games chief product officer, Tim Bucher said:
“We think that it’s one of the many pieces in the puzzle to make responsible gambling a reality. The UK Gambling Commission does not want the responsible gambling element to suppress entertainment. If you suppress the entertainment, you might make gaming responsible, but you will also defeat the industry and make the whole market non-existent. ”
Tim and his team at Scientific Games have many plans in the pipeline for safer gambling practices. This includes SG Vision, cameras placed in gaming machines, lottery terminals and games tables that will help anonymously identify players and put an end to unnecessary losses.
It remains to be seen just how effective these new technologies will be but there’s no doubt that the future looks brighter for safer gambling around the world.