BGC encourages better protections for slot players in Code Handbook

Slot machine
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The Betting and Gaming Council has issued its first Code Handbook, hoping to increase its members’ protections against gambling harm. 

Within the UK trade body’s Code of Conduct focussing on the land-based casino sector was a section aiming to ‘protect slot players from gambling related harm and provide an environment that allows them to gamble safely’. 

These slots measures presented policies and procedures for the Council’s operator members to consider six key pillars: 

  • Inform: Making safer gambling messaging and tools more accessible and easier to understand
  • Identify: Implementing effective systems for the early identification of harmful slots play, with employee training for identifying risks
  • Interact: Encouraging communication with at-risk players
  • Monitor: Continuous monitoring of at-risk players with defined processes for players with ongoing signs of harmful gambling
  • Support: Better signposting for help and support available to at-risk players
  • Evaluate: Perform ongoing reporting and evaluation to inform operators on customer responses to the Code measures

The slot measures require all operators to offer every player the ability to set personal monetary and time limits on Category B1 machines, with players required to set time and/or monetary limits before commencing a slots session. 

These measures will apply across the diverse membership of the BGC, including land-based operators like casinos, which are a pillar of the hospitality and tourism sector, bookmakers on hard-pressed high streets and online gaming operators.

The code emphasises that members should consult external stakeholders when formulating new tools including collaboration with charities and other BGC operators. 

Betting and Gaming Council CEO Grainne Hurst, commented: “I am delighted to announce this new Code Handbook, which comprises over five years of determined work to raise standards, across the board.

“It is also entirely fitting that we publish this landmark new Code Handbook on our fifth anniversary. The BGC was founded as the industry’s standards body, and this Handbook draws together our sector’s combined efforts, under the leadership of the BGC, to raise standards on safer gambling in the UK.

“With 20 Codes covering 100 measures, which all BGC members follow as a condition of membership, this comprehensive document should rightly be seen as the concrete demonstration of our member’s determination to deliver world-class standards.

“This Code Handbook is also not the final word on this work, because the commitment to raising standards does not stop for the BGC, or our members.

“That’s why we are working with the regulator and government on over 50 additional workstreams which will raise standards even further as part of the White Paper reforms.”

As well as this, one strategy bids for safer gambling messaging to appear on slot machine receipts (referred to as TITO), promoting safer gambling and advice on staying in control, including the National Helpline phone number. 

Land-based casino operators have also been requested to ensure that at least 20% of their slot machines’ top screen imagery is dedicated to safer gambling messaging. 

Additionally, these operators must provide ‘easier access and clearer information’ on help pages and leaflets, allowing players to understand concepts such as RTP rates and play limits. 

Hurst added: “Taken alone, neither the recently published White Paper on gambling reform, or existing licence conditions set by the Gambling Commission, can deliver the world class standards our industry strives for.

“It takes independent determination on behalf of our members, and collective ambition by the BGC to deliver that. This Handbook is the result of that determination and ambition.

“We are determined to deliver the foundations for a sustainable sector, built on stability, growth and diversity, ensuring our members set the global standard for our world-class industry.”To view the handbook in full, click here.