BGC Unveils Player-First Game Design Code of Conduct

The UK-based Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has announced a new code of conduct aims to improve player protection by targeting known problem areas in casino game feature design.

Michael Dugher, chief executive of the Betting and Gaming Council, said:

“The BGC was set up last year with the aim of leading a race to the top in terms of standards within the regulated betting industry. The new Game Design Code of Conduct is yet another example of our determination to address concerns head-on and meet our safer gambling commitments. I’m sure that our members will embrace this approach and commit to its objective of improving player safety.”

The new code is intended to be an industry-led program which addresses the areas of concern raised by parliament and safe gambling bodies. This includes making it mandatory to limit excessively fast gameplay, ensuring single gameplay sessions and more. All of which limits the risk of problem gambling.

3D Graphics New Game Design Code

The official BGC release which outlines the new Game Design Code of Conduct has at its core the following overarching intent:

“Informed Player Choice: Empowering customers to play more safely through the provision of clearer information on product and game rules, including mathematical properties such as risk, the chances of winning and optimal strategies.”

The code addresses gameplay features which have been proven to be triggers for players facing gambling addiction or who find themselves chasing losses.

The current version of the new code of conduct has been broken down into two phases:

✓Phase 1 (implemented September 30th, 2020)

Minimum game speed of 2.5 seconds – from the time a player presses spin or start, to the time when the next start or spin option is available must be 2.5 seconds or longer. This includes any game with an Autoplay feature.
Removing Turbo Play – to facilitate the above minimum game speed lightning rounds, turbo play and other features aimed at speeding up the gameplay cycle will have to be removed.
Removing game slam stops – all casino games that allow the player to speed up spins or hands played by pressing a button or hitting the space bar will have to remove that feature. This includes any free spins or free games offered by operators.
Removing multi-slot gaming – any clients which allow players to open and play multiple games at once will have to remove this feature in its totality.

✓Phase 2 (to be implemented January 31st, 2021)

Clarify when wins per game are less than the stake per game – game design will need to make it clear through design, colour use and game sounds that the player has lost money on any given wager.
Wins per game greater than stake per game can be celebrated – in contrast to the above, game design can also celebrate real wins with the same.
Player control over Bonus Game feature – games will not be allowed to begin Bonus Rounds and Free Spins without the player pressing a button to initiate the feature. This will also apply to the transition from a Bonus Feature back to the base game.

In its simplest form, the new code addresses gameplay features which have been proven to be triggers for players facing gambling addiction or who find themselves chasing losses. This both protects the user and proves the industry is willing to make the changes necessary to support safe gambling.

Facts Protecting iGaming from Downing Street

This industry-led push to address specific game-related issues raised by those in the UK who would limit online gambling is a fantastic move ahead of the upcoming review of the gambling act.

Dugher commented:

“And as we prepare for the forthcoming Gambling Review, it is further evidence of our industry’s commitment to improving standards – unlike the completely unregulated black market.”

It is clear from Dugher’s statement that the intention of this new code of conduct is to both protect players and remove power from industry detractors in parliament.

Proving the industry can self-regulate and has player protection as a central-focus could potentially be enough to keep Downing Street from interfering in policy formation, which left in their hands, could cripple the online gambling industry.