Regulatory approaches to account-based gambling
IAGR partner, Greo, provides IAGR members with a snapshot of regulatory approaches to online gambling worldwide. Greo is an independent knowledge translation and exchange organisation that helps organisations improve their programs, policies and practices by harnessing the power of evidence and stakeholder insight.
This month, Greo have shared a selection of research around regulatory approaches to account-based gambling.
Account-based gambling refers to placing bets on gambling activities from a central account linked to a specific person through an identification card or, in some cases even biometric identification (e.g., fingerprints). Some jurisdictions require people to register to gamble through an account, and others may incentivize account use through loyalty programs.
Account-based gambling and the resulting data have the potential to support more effective consumer protection. At the same time, there are challenges around data sharing, processes for informed consent, and the operators’ duty of care when people experience harms. In addition, research suggests that loyalty programs may contribute to the development of gambling harms by rewarding and encouraging more frequent play. The risk of experiencing gambling harm rises with gambling frequency. Therefore, loyalty programs and reward systems that are used to incentivize people to register for accounts can lead to unintended harms.
How can regulators identify opportunities that account-based gambling might offer to prevent gambling harms and minimize the potential unintended harms and consequences? And how can data from account-based gambling support other regulatory efforts to reduce harms?
Recently published gambling research
Below is a selection of plain-language summaries of research articles that explore account-based gambling, loyalty programs, and related harms:
- A comparison of mandatory and autonomous electronic players’ card systems on gambling behaviours
- Using account data to identify online problem gambling
- Rewarding the use of responsible gambling tools can increase willingness to use the tools and attitudinal loyalty
- The relationship between positive play and loyalty to a casino
- What influences people to believe in a shared responsibility of minimizing gambling harm?
- Efficacy of GameSense as a responsible gambling program among US-based MGM loyalty program members
- German people’s attitudes towards maximum deposit limits and how attitudes are linked to actual gambling behaviours
- Examining consumer profiles from a national dataset of Portuguese online lottery players
Evidence-informed action
Below are examples of how jurisdictions have integrated account-based play and loyalty programs into regulatory frameworks intended to reduce gambling harms.
Denmark
Denmark’s gaming regulator, Spillemyndigheden, introduced a mandatory identification card for retail betting in July 2022. The identification card is an anti-money laundering measure that also provides better protection for young people and those experiencing problem gambling. The cards allow operators to check whether a person is over 18 years of age, has voluntarily excluded from gambling, or has exceeded self-imposed spending limits.
Finland
Finland’s gambling operator, Veikkaus, introduced account-based gambling for slot machines in 2021. People must authenticate their identity on slot machines using a Veikkaus-issued card, by mobile phone, or by using a payment card linked to a user account. The measure makes age verification easier and ensures that mandatory loss limits include wagers made on slot machines. The operator’s goal is to have people authenticate for all types of gambling by the end of 2023.
