The Game Safety Institute (GSI) is dedicated to fostering a more comprehensive approach to ensuring the safety of gamers. Analysts emphasize the industry's responsibility in understanding the true impact of its products and actions on players. Rather than viewing players as a risky part or weak link in the gambling chain, it is crucial to assess products from a risk perspective.
In recent years, numerous companies have emerged within the responsible gambling sector, focusing on analyzing and preventing gambling addiction while offering alternative perspectives on the issue. While commendable work is being done, the effectiveness of interventions and restrictions for gamers remains questionable.
Two notable figures in the responsible gaming arena are Sara Ramanauskas and Simo Dragicevic. Ramanauskas is renowned for her extensive experience with organizations like Gambling Integrity, BetKnowmore, and The Howard League. Meanwhile, Dragicevic, known for founding BetBuddy, gained prominence through his work at Playtech. Their collaboration on the Game Safety Institute (GSI) presents a promising avenue for providing successful, long-term care for problem gamblers.
GSI's innovative approach aims to encompass all facets of the gamer experience, creating a multi-layered understanding of the reasons and factors that adversely affect individual gamers. In an interview with the specialized publication IGB, Ramanauskas discusses the significance of their new project and why the industry needs a fresh and correct perspective on responsible gaming rules.
Features of the GSI Approach: Redefining Gaming Safety
According to Sara Ramanauskas, the Game Safety Institute (GSI) serves as a crucial resource for operators seeking to enhance the safety, enjoyment, and relevance of the gaming experience for consumers. Ramanauskas, along with Simo Dragicevic, has spearheaded a shift in perspective from having products that people want to play to identifying the safest products for gamers.
The key aspect of GSI's approach involves a fundamental change in focus. Rather than relying on players to opt out or utilize self-care tools, GSI aims to implement security mechanisms at all stages and levels of interaction seamlessly, without the gamer's explicit awareness.
Simo Dragicevic emphasizes the regulatory perspective, stating that understanding the gamer and their behavior is crucial. While efforts like Gamstop in the UK focus on responsible gambling tools, GSI seeks to go beyond player-centric measures. The emphasis is on considering the broader environment, the product, and whether the player is susceptible to harmful or addictive gambling behavior.
GSI's approach, although ahead of the curve, presents an opportunity to establish standards against which future player behavior and regulation will be measured. The institute initiated its journey by surveying lottery and casino operators worldwide, assessing the importance of product risk and safety. The responses highlighted the significance of the topic, indicating a need for a central hub of excellence. This led to the creation of the Gaming Safety Institute, envisioned as a go-to resource for those contemplating the safety of their gaming products.
Types of Games and Their Impact on Players: GSI's Perspective
Consider the game of roulette in its various forms – while the basic rules remain consistent, the potential harm to players can significantly differ across platforms. The setting, frequency of spins, and social interactions all contribute to the varying levels of risk associated with the game. This complexity raises the question of how the Game Safety Institute (GSI) defines "unsafe" in the gaming environment.
Simo Dragicevic, part of the GSI team, emphasizes that risk is a defining element of gambling. The institute is developing an assessment system that focuses on game design, marketing, and player training. This system enables operators to evaluate risk elements and their impact strategically, considering how different elements interact positively or negatively.
GSI is also working on a platform to collect product information, allowing providers to upload game metadata, mechanics, and mathematics. This comprehensive approach aims to assess the ingredients of games, particularly in the case of slots, and categorize them based on their impact on players. Ultimately, GSI seeks to provide operators with the tools to evaluate product risk and safety comprehensively.
A Holistic Approach: Integrating Safety Principles into Gameplay
The power and effectiveness of a comprehensive approach lie in its ability to provide a new perspective on games, gamers, delivery methods, and more. By understanding the real risk factors for individual players, operators can establish sustainable relationships. Long-term relationships are more valuable, as retaining a player is more cost-effective than acquiring a new one.
In this context, the traditional responsible gambling (RG) method becomes obsolete. Messages about responsible gambling, with limits on deposits or losses, will no longer be separate from the gaming experience. The holistic, multi-layered approach advocated by the Game Safety Institute (GSI) integrates safety principles directly into the gaming experience, eliminating the need for separate RG measures.
Sara Ramanauskas emphasizes the need to understand a new client's intentions on the site and build security into the product itself. Simo Dragicevic echoes this sentiment, asserting that responsible gambling should be invisible, seamlessly integrated into the gaming experience without requiring players to think about it consciously. The goal is to develop subtle policies that prioritize player well-being over squeezing every last drop of revenue.
Risk to Earnings? A Win-Win Scenario for Responsible Gambling
Undoubtedly, there is a perceived risk for operators that acting responsibly might lead to the loss of valuable players to competitors. The pressure of quarterly dividends often drives short-term decision-making. However, Sara Ramanauskas points out that the stakeholders behind the scenes are crucial, and employees are a significant group.
She emphasizes the importance of fostering a positive work environment where employees feel they are making ethical decisions. Ramanauskas refers to a case where a gambling business had its UK license revoked, and employee reviews on Glassdoor reflected a sense of making immoral decisions. For operators, attracting and retaining top talent depends on demonstrating a commitment to responsible practices.
In essence, choosing the responsible route becomes a win-win scenario. Prioritizing responsible gambling not only safeguards players but also contributes to employee satisfaction and, in the long run, helps attract and retain top-quality talent.
