Essential Practices for Safe Online Gambling

Responsible gaming for safe online gambling For many people today, online gambling is the preferred form of gaming. With the increasing popularity of online betting, operators and players want to feel safe. However, this comes with certain responsibilities for both parties.

In 2022, the global online gambling market was estimated to be worth around 65 billion euros. Therefore, operators of casino and sports betting websites want to guarantee that their players gamble responsibly. This requires solutions that support customers, protect the authenticity of games of chance and prevent fraudulent activities. Such measures are intended to reassure players that they are playing or placing bets on a reliable online gambling site.

However, there may be concerns from both sides that a significant amount of time and effort is required to ensure safe gaming. However, it is the other way around.

What is responsible gaming and why is it important?

Responsible gaming is all about prevention. While players are looking for entertainment, some things go beyond their scope or are exploited by individuals for their own benefit. Rather, responsible gaming is a concept that includes various guidelines and requirements that apply to gambling participants. Various measures are taken to ensure that operators meet the highest quality standards while providing a safe user experience that protects customers from the potential negative effects of online gambling.

The principles of the European Commission’s recommendations include the creation and maintenance of a socially responsible gambling environment and the provision of measures to support players’ gaming behavior. While it is up to each individual player to use the tools provided, it is the responsibility of Member States to ensure that appropriate tools are provided to ensure safe gambling.

In this regard, the recommendation states that online gambling operators should be required to provide players with the ability to set their own financial and time limits; to provide services such as time-outs, pauses and long-term self-exclusion systems to provide players with information about their gambling and spending behavior; and to engage with any customers whose gambling behavior indicates a possible development of gambling problems.

It is also proposed that gambling sites should display links to support hotlines and other relevant information from support organizations to promote responsible gambling. Furthermore, EU member states are encouraged to set up national self-exclusion registers that would allow players to self-exclude from all online providers in that jurisdiction that offer gambling. It should also be ensured that all providers have access to these registers. As a result of this funding, the number of member states offering national self-exclusion registers has grown to a total of 16 over the past three years.

In this way, gambling providers can provide their customers with all the tools they need to gamble responsibly. However, it is not only achieved through self-exclusion and the monitoring of gambling behavior. It also includes a number of other aspects on the part of stakeholders. The following are the key aspects involved in achieving responsible gaming:

Protecting vulnerable players through responsible gaming tools and self-exclusion options Preventing underage gambling Combating criminal activity through security measures Providing an information policy Ensuring online payment protection Maintaining a safe online environment Adhering to ethical standards and responsible advertising The importance of these practices is clear. Companies in the online gambling industry that implement the above measures act as role models in terms of the relevance of responsible gambling.

Prevention of fraud and gambling among young people Not only vulnerable but also underage players are protected. The operator can counteract criminal activities that would endanger both the company and its players by providing a secure website. Although gambling among 16 to 17-year-olds in Germany has been on the decline since 2011, over 69% of young people have already taken part in various games of chance before their 18th birthday. This is one of the many reasons why the federal government in Germany heavily regulates online gambling.

Furthermore, criminal activity in many areas of the internet, including online gambling, is a serious problem. This is particularly the case when major sporting events such as the World Cup take place and operators register an increase in user activity.

In the first quarter of 2022, the global rate of online gambling fraud increased by more than 50%. To prevent fraud and underage gambling, it is necessary for secure online gambling sites to verify the identity of their players.

How verifying your identity can help you gamble responsibly 

When it comes to online gambling and identity verification, many providers and players are put off by the requirements. But it doesn’t have to come to that. Even when major sporting events are busy, companies can offer responsible gambling while welcoming new players.

The reason for this success is a user-friendly verification process that also reduces fraud. By offering such an experience, major sporting events such as the 2022 World Cup can become ideal showcases and opportunities for operators to demonstrate what they can do for their customers in terms of responsible gaming.

Part of planning such events involves motivating players to verify themselves before the event. It was demonstrated during EURO 2020 how helpful it can be to consider background checks before the actual identity verification, using the AutoIdent and VideoIdent options provided. This includes which browsers and devices may be used by players to meet demand.

By using NFC, gaming operators can quickly scan an NFC document, reducing the need for manual labor. This improves the company’s gross margin and increases convenience for users. In addition, by reading the chip, it provides the business with a higher level of security as it is recognized by more authorities.

This allows a new form of sophisticated crime to be detected, which is not possible without identity verification. During EURO 2020, it was noticed that fraudsters were using very well forged ID cards, with security features such as holograms and watermarks mimicked almost perfectly. When an ID document is perfectly forged, verification solutions are needed that offer more than just visual security features – as is possible with NFC.

Ultimately, identity verification is a win-win situation for sports fans and betting providers: It ensures a high level of security for the company and enables a quick, convenient onboarding process for the customer. In fact, 83% of operators believe that flawless digital transactions have become essential for the continued existence of businesses. This also creates trust between the players and the operator.

Supporting responsible gaming through KYC processes 

Whether it’s a major sporting event, entering a new market or opening a new online casino, preparation is indeed critical to success. Only by using identity verification platforms and implementing robust KYC processes for a relaxed player onboarding experience can you be successful.

KYC solutions are fully automated and AML-compliant, enable online gambling operators to check various security features on ID documents and verify more than 7 billion customers from 195 countries. This ensures that the identity and age of customers are correctly confirmed.

Our solutions focus on security and ease of use for the customer – making the process very easy to understand. To complete the verification within a few minutes, simply follow the on-screen instructions. This technology enables us to achieve a 90 % conversion rate.

In addition, these platforms cover a wide range of use cases in regulated European industries as well as for new digital business models worldwide. It enables the verification process to be adapted to different regional, legal and business requirements.