Could a Global Gambling Self-Exclusion Program Work?

As one of the most challenging and important facets of gambling services, player protection remains at the forefront of regulation and sustainable business practices. Is it possible for the global industry to come together and create a reliable network of protection for those players at risk of harm?

Some jurisdictions have called for it, and now a blue paper has been released with clear intentions of establishing it. A global self-exclusion program resolves a collection of problems the industry currently faces, and Casino Guru hopes to achieve the goal through collaboration and dedication that cross borders and continents.

What would a global self-exclusion program mean to the industry and players, and how probable is it?

 Identifying the Need

Casino Guru first announced their ambitious plan of developing a global self-exclusion programme just over a year ago. Fourteen months later, the team released their blue paper as the official proposition, including technical details on the Global Self-Exclusion System (GSES), as well as potential challenges and solutions.

The need for this worldwide interdependent network becomes clear when investigating current systems and how easy it is for players to work around the isolated systems. Failures in this area expose vulnerable players to further harm. Simon Vincze, Sustainable and Safer Gambling Lead at Casino Guru, points out how easy it is for players who self-exclude from one platform to create a profile and continue playing on another.

 Success Through Community

Through GSES, businesses and regulators in the gambling industry become a global network of player protectors. Casino Guru set out to create awareness of the program a year ago while gathering valuable information on the requirements and challenges of a self-exclusion program running on a global scale. The blue paper addresses these, and Vincze’s team already has buy-in from big brands.

Countries like the UK and Spain have mentioned the need for regulators to share exclusion registers, and the GSES answers the call. Through an international API system, operators would have access to all registered players with information on their exclusion status. This enables all participating gambling businesses to protect those who feel the urge to sidestep their own decision to stop gambling. If adopted by most licensed and other operators, GSES could minimise gambling harm on a massive scale.

The blue paper for GSES describes that getting operators on board would mean:

“To gradually push such a system through via self-regulation – not by persuading the regulators to require it, but by getting enough operators to understand the benefits of a functional Global Self-Exclusion System and become part of it, which will persuade others to join as well.”

Casino Guru hopes for GSES to become an industry standard, much like the KYC processes. The blue paper also stipulates the necessity of an unbiased external team managing the system and explains that self-exclusion is only a piece of the puzzle. They hope to incorporate support programs into GSES to continue the recovery process.

 Challenges to Overcome

The biggest challenges the team faces are adoption and foreign markets. GSES can only succeed with massive global adoption, and this includes buy-in from providers who don’t follow regulatory protocols. As Vincze points out, the system relies on voluntary self-exclusion as regulators do not enforce the practice.

Players may be concerned with their privacy and refrain from registration as they fear exposure. Casino Guru suggests the solution to this concern includes a community effort. In what they call ‘lost in the crowd’, the company proposes that all stakeholders register on GSES, not just those with a gambling addiction.

 Global Self-Exclusion Plausible

The need for an interconnected global self-exclusion programme is evident. The blue paper for GSES covers a lot of the important topics that may cause headaches for operators, players, and the team managing the programme. It is a work in progress and can only be successful if the gambling industry unites.