Mike de Graaff, Co-Founder and Chief Compliance Officer of BetComply, described the illicit gambling market as an enigma, highlighting the difficulty in accurately assessing its scale. He argued that the regulated market, in its aggressive pursuit of profit, inadvertently fostered the growth of this unregulated sector. This observation followed Peter Rampertaap, Coordinator of Operational Supervision at the Dutch Gambling Authority’s, revelation that nearly half of the Netherlands’ gambling market operates outside the law.
The Challenges of Regulation and Player Awareness
Marian Mihaila, Global Responsible Gaming Manager at Superbet, emphasized the significance of industry self-regulation and the delicate balance between sufficient oversight and excessive control, focusing on player well-being and lifestyles. De Graaff further highlighted the obstacles faced in promoting player awareness, citing the difficulties in competing with search engine algorithms that often prioritize unregulated sites over responsible gambling resources. He emphasized that convincing operators, particularly those with limited budgets, to prioritize player awareness campaigns over marketing and recruitment efforts remains a significant challenge. He suggested that less restrictive markets that encourage responsible operator growth could help address this issue, a view shared by Rampertaap, who stated that a legally compliant market should also be an attractive one.
De Graaff underscored the public’s limited understanding of the distinction between legal and illegal operators, highlighting the difficulty consumers face in identifying trustworthy and protected gambling environments. He noted the irony that many regulated operators critical of the black market often had a history of operating in less regulated spaces. He also pointed out the significant challenge presented by search engine results, where illegal operators often outrank licensed ones. While acknowledging this as a considerable hurdle (“We’re not going to win that fight.”), he commended the innovative efforts of licensed operators who are adopting black market SEO strategies to redirect players seeking illicit sites towards regulated platforms. He stressed, however, that such tactics shouldn’t be necessary.
The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Responsible Gambling
Rampertaap expressed optimism that future regulations and increased cooperation with tech giants like Google could help curb illegal gambling activities. The discussion inevitably turned to artificial intelligence (AI), with De Graaff anticipating its growing importance in responsible gambling (RG), mirroring its established role in advertising and personalization. Mihaila went further, asserting that AI is becoming indispensable for operators and organizations committed to responsible practices, presenting a business advantage by identifying and managing at-risk players.
Romero raised a counterpoint, suggesting that AI could potentially maintain a steady, albeit reduced, level of player losses, rather than leading to rapid losses and self-exclusion. Mihaila responded that this depends entirely on the operator’s strategic approach. De Graaff agreed that AI’s potential is dual-edged, emphasizing the critical need for human oversight. He illustrated this with the analogy of a weapon, usable for both defense and offense.
The New Zealand Model and Future Regulatory Considerations
De Graaff proposed New Zealand as an ideal testing ground for the integration of 15 new operators, emphasizing the importance of preventing market disruption and excessive regulatory strain. Rampertaap concurred, highlighting the tendency of operators to rush into new markets, potentially overwhelming regulatory bodies and ultimately impacting players’ lives – a trend requiring careful management.
Yes! Finally someone writes about online casino.