The Betting and Gaming Council has launched a revised Code of Conduct relating to the creation of video games in an effort to improve player safety and fix gambling problems.
The new initiatives following the Safer Gambling Commitments published by the BGC in 2019 are expected to be implemented at the end of this month and will include slow spin rates, the banning of several gaming features that have created ‘concern’ and improved access to safer gambling information.
Michael Dugher, the Betting and Gaming Council’s chief executive, said: “The BGC was set up last year with the aim of leading a race to the top in terms of standards within the regulated betting industry.
“The new Game Design Code of Conduct is yet another example of our determination to address concerns head on and meet our safer gambling commitments.
“I’m sure that our members will embrace this approach and commit to its objective of improving player safety.
“And as we prepare for the forthcoming Gambling Review, it is further evidence of our industry’s commitment to improving standards – unlike the completely unregulated black market.”
Minimum game loop speeds of 2.5 seconds, the end of turbo play, which allows players to speed up games, and the scrapping of multi-slot play, where a player can put several stakes on various games at the same time, are among the main commitments included in the new code.
In addition, the code is also intended to incorporate additional mandatory checks on the actions of players in order to incorporate breaks in the game. In addition, the industry is expected to explore ways to enhance game labelling in order to increase the awareness of key words by players.
The BGC has also reiterated its commitment to collaborating with researchers, regulators, customers and people with lived experience of betting-related harm to establish best practises in game design in the future to ensure that the code of conduct remains up to date with technological changes.
