GamCare Survey Finds Support For VIP Scheme And Shirt Sponsorship Bans
A new GamCare survey has discovered support for bans on VIP schemes and gambling football shirt sponsorships.
Last December, the UK Government launched its review of the Gambling Act 2005, aiming to make several major reforms to the gambling industry. In response, GamCare conducted a survey involving 343 people, including those who identify as gambling, those affected by another’s gambling and those who have a professional interest in gambling support.
The survey, which can be read here, polled respondents on proposals for the gambling review and found major support for tighter gambling restrictions. Of those surveyed, 80% support a ban on gambling operators sponsoring sports events and 83% support a ban on gambling sponsorships on football shirts.
Meanwhile, 72% of all respondents in the GamCare survey believe that limits on spending and time should be set on all gambling accounts by default, and 80% believe that existing online protections are insufficient and ineffective for all age groups. Over 90% of respondents want more to be done on the regulation of gambling advertisements in print, online and on television, radio, and social media.
In addition, 88% of GamCare’s respondents believe that not enough is being done to reduce online gambling harm, almost 90% believe that more should be done to protect children from accessing gambling, and 83% believe that extra protection should be provided to gamblers aged 18-25.
In addition to the above, the GamCare survey found support for more restrictions on the play of casino games, with 84% of respondents supporting a maximum bet per spin. Of that 84%, 65% believe that the bet limit should be under £5. Finally, 82% of respondents voiced support for a ban on VIP schemes.
In a statement to iGamingBusiness, GamCare Chief Executive Anna Hemmings said: “The recent pandemic has only increased common risk factors including isolation, boredom and money worries. Young men under 35 make up the majority of those who seek help via our helpline. We want to encourage anyone who is worried about themselves or a loved one to contact us – we can offer expert advice and arrange for them to get the support they need.”
She continued: “The review of the 2005 Gambling Act has come at just the right time as we are climbing out of lockdown in the UK, and the increase [in] those seeking help with their online gambling has become a worrisome problem. We want people to realise the first step is to seek non-judgmental help from our trained advisers after what has been a terribly damaging year for us all. Gambling is a serious health harm and we welcome discussion to bring us this problem to the forefront of addiction issues, and to ensure we can secure sustainable funds to meet the needs of those affected.”
The news comes after a survey by the Gambling Health Alliance (GHA) found that the UK general public is in favour of tighter gambling measures, with most supporting a £2 stake limit on slots, a ban on VIP schemes, a new levy on the gambling industry, tighter affordability checks, a ban on gambling activities for people under 18, and new rules requiring casino products to be assessed before launching in the UK.
Pragmatic Play Announces New Partnerships
Also this week, leading game developer Pragmatic Play has announced new partnerships with M88 and BetPlay, extending its user reach around the world. Under Pragmatic Play’s partnership with BetPlay, all of the developer’s video slots have launched with the Columbian online casino website.
Users registered at the site will be able to enjoy all of Pragmatic Play’s slots, including popular games such as Sweet Bonanza and Wolf Gold, as well as all new releases like Juicy Fruits and The Hand Of Midas. In addition to receiving Pragmatic Play’s games, BetPlay has been given access to the developer’s promotional tools, such as its popular Drops & Wins network promotion.
Yossi Barzely, the Chief Business Development Officer at Pragmatic Play, said of its partnership with BetPlay: “Signing deal after deal in Latin America stands as living proof of how adaptable our products are to different audiences. Going live with our complete slots collection with BetPlay is a huge step for our positioning in the continent, and we expect nothing but the best from this collaboration. BetPlay is one of the market leaders in Colombia and they truly stand out as an operator, so we’re looking forward to seeing how our titles are received.”
German Segura, the General Manager at Corredor Empresarial, added: “Pragmatic Play has a reputation for developing excellent slot content, and we are thrilled to be able to add it to our offering. We continue to look for growth opportunities, and with Pragmatic Play’s content we now have a significant opportunity to capture market share from their considerable fanbase.”
Meanwhile, Pragmatic Play’s partnership with online casino M88 has seen the developer launch its catalogue of live casino games with the website. Users registered with the Mansion-owned casino will be able to enjoy all of Pragmatic’s live content, including dozens of variations of Baccarat, Blackjack, and Roulette, all of which are broadcast from a specially designed and tailored studio.
Carlos Lopez, the Creative Director at Mansion Asia, said of the partnership: “Our players are already as enthusiastic as us about Pragmatic Play’s live casino offering being delivered from a dedicated studio, and we’re thrilled at the swift turnaround. It’s always very fulfilling working with companies with similar goals to ours, and we’re excited about what the future holds for our partnership.”
The above partnerships are just some of those Pragmatic Play has made over the last months, following agreements with Betway, AGCLUB7, Efbet, Grupo Cordialito, BetVictor, Broadway Gaming, and numerous others.