GB Group Calls For Industry-Wide Approach To Control Problem Gambling Online
The world’s largest provider of identity based information to the online gaming industry has called for an industry-wide “self-exclusion” process to tackle the issue of problem gambling following the decision by a gambling addict to sue a betting chain for losses incurred after he had ‘self-excluded’ from further activity.
Graham Calvert, 28, is suing William Hill for more than £2 million - money he lost gambling after asking the bookmaker to block his account from further use.
And now GB Group, providers of online tools to confirm the age and identity of new players on all major online gaming sites, has called for an industry-wide, joined-up approach to share self-exclusion data as part of the player verification process. The company also provides analytical tools, through its PlayerPredict solution, that can identify potential problem gamblers within a client’s customer-base, based on known trends and behaviours.
By using self-exclusion screening as part of the initial player verification process, and using technology to predict problem gambling patterns, operators can greatly reduce the risks associated with dealing with players who develop addictive traits.
Richard Law, CEO of GB Group, said: “I hugely sympathise with Mr Calvert because he had clearly identified that he had a problem and was trying to do something about it.
“Unfortunately, even if this particular provider had prevented Mr Calvert from gambling, under the present system he could have gone to an alternative provider and carried on gambling. For this reason we believe the online gaming industry urgently needs to get together and share information on problem gambling and use the tools and technology that already exists to detect potential signs of addiction in order to help people like Mr Calvert.
“As market leader in the whole field of identity verification, we are already collaborating with major players in the industry including Skybet, Virgin Games and Probability Gaming to ensure shared, joined-up approach can be in place in the near future to prevent cases such as Mr Calvert’s happening again.”
March 2008