Worrying trends of excessive gambling and resulting harm due to the ease of access to online betting have necessitated urgent action from major gaming providers. This issue has prompted all members of the Belgian Association of Gaming Operators (BAGO) to pledge their commitment to a new Duty of Care Agreement, a significant step taken collectively this week. The core aspiration of this novel consensus is to counteract problem gambling effectively and identify precarious betting behaviors swiftly.
Every last one of the six BAGO members, including Kindred, Napoleon, Ardent Group, Golden Palace, BetFirst, and Star Casino, ushers in a new era by consenting to the Duty of Care Agreement. These established operators unite in order to forge efficient and factual policies and cooperate with the Belgian government towards a safer gaming scene.
As BAGO discerns that nearly seven in ten gamblers within Belgium have taken to partaking in online wagering activities, this development is of pertinent significance. The Association endorses that while a significant number of these customers appreciate this pastime responsibly, there are nevertheless instances of excessive gambling causing notable harm.
The Duty of Care Agreement essentially relies on four paramount facets, to which all BAGO members have concurred. The consensus prompts the development of strategies intended to arm the players with wise guidance and intelligence about responsible adherence to voluntary deposit limitations, self-exclusion, and other player safeguard practices.
Moreover, the Agreement encourages the creation of a potent detection apparatus employing AI, scientific-based standards, and algorithms intended to flag potential hazardous gambling behaviors. Such indicators could encompass the count and intensity of deposits, duration and frequency of play, among other notable variables.
Also, BAGO members consented to educate and bestow specialized training to their personnel to certify their adequacy in detecting problem gambling and initiating appropriate measures. Lastly, the providers settled on the exchange of the prevention policy information with the country’s gaming regulatory body.
A Sustainable Gaming Business Cannot Thrive on Addictions
Tom De Clercq, the BAGO’s chairman, articulated that a central objective for the Association is to promote a betting landscape that empowers players to indulge responsibly in such activities. Further, he sees the duty of care as a valuable supplement to protective measures in existence at present, such as the EPIS check and the deposit limit with affiliated inspections.
“We are committed to shaping an environment conducive to gambling responsibly and secure supporters.“
Tom De Clercq, Chairman of BAGO
Damien Thiéry, BAGO’s secretary general, contributed that as per information from Sciensano, roughly 0.9% of the Belgian population is “at risk of developing a gambling habit.” In addition to the addiction, such players can experience emotional, personal, or fiscal tribulations, which Thiéry elucidated. Thiéry stressed that a stable industry cannot rely on addiction. Lastly, he emphasized that Belgian game operators aspire to provide a secure entertaining platform to their customers.
