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Majority of gamblers hit with affordability checks have handed over info, but wider betting population unwilling
- Most bettors asked to undergo financial checks agree
- Higher spending players more willing than lower spenders
- Most who’ve not yet faced affordability checks say they will refuse
The majority of bettors who have been asked for proof they can afford to gamble have provided it, but there are big questions over how things will play out if checks become mandatory or more common, the results of a new study by sports betting community OLBG show.
A survey of bettors carried out online by YouGov for OLBG found that the majority of those who had been asked by gambling operators to provide documents such as payslips, bank statements or other documents had complied with the request.
The survey, which polled 1,007 bettors, found that 21.8% of bettors had already been asked for documents by at least one bookmaker. Of these, 74.3% had provided them, but 17.9% had refused and started playing with a different licensed operator instead. Of the remainder, 4.1% refused and moved to an unlicensed operator, while 3.7% stopped betting entirely.
The willingness to provide documentation was less widespread among those who had not yet been asked to do so, however.
Of the 78.2% of punters who had not yet faced affordability checks, 37.3% said they would refuse and simply stop betting, 35.0% said they would move to a different licensed operator and 4.1% said they’d go to an unlicensed company. Only 23.5% indicated they would be willing to provide the documents.
“Most bettors who have been asked to provide documents have done so. More importantly, very few of those who were asked stopped gambling or went to the black market, the latter being the worst unintended consequence of measures aimed at making gambling more responsible,” said Richard Moffat, CEO at OLBG.
“However, there is a stark difference between those who have been asked and those who haven’t in terms of willingness.”
As the below table shows, overall 65% of bettors reported not being willing to comply with affordability checks. Those betting lower monthly amounts were the least open to handing over financial documents, with more than three in four (75.4%) of those betting less than £5 a month and 72% of those betting £6-15 a month unwilling to undergo affordability checks.
“Few people who are spending at this level are likely to think it is proportionate for a bookie to ask for proof they can afford it and it’s quite surprising how many lower spending players report already having been asked. From the rumours about what level mandatory checks might come in, it seems unlikely checks will be forced on players at levels under £100 per month,” said Moffat.
Players spending less than £100 per month
| Have you been asked by a gambling company to provide payslips, bank statements or similar documents as part of an affordability or proof of funds check? | All bettors | Less than £5 | £6-15 | £16-25 | £26-50 | £51-100 |
| Unweighted base | 1,007 | 235 | 224 | 147 | 154 | 93 |
| Yes, I have and I provided the required documents | 16.16% | 6.00% | 10.08% | 20.86% | 16.55% | 14.27% |
| No, I have not but I would provide the documents if asked | 18.45% | 18.20% | 18.06% | 23.14% | 20.31% | 21.62% |
| Yes, I have, but I didn’t provide the documents and bet with a different licensed company instead | 3.92% | 0.40% | 1.77% | 4.22% | 4.53% | 6.57% |
| Yes, I have but I didn’t provide the documents and bet with a different unlicensed company instead | 0.90% | 0.00% | 0.47% | 0.71% | 1.29% | 1.08% |
| Yes, I have but I didn’t provide the documents and stopped betting | 0.79% | 0.00% | 0.43% | 0.70% | 1.94% | 1.10% |
| No, I have not and if asked I wouldn’t provide the documents and would bet with a different licensed company instead | 27.40% | 20.40% | 31.52% | 24.80% | 35.25% | 38.36% |
| No, I have not and if asked I wouldn’t provide the documents and would bet with an unlicensed company instead | 3.20% | 1.30% | 3.57% | 4.17% | 3.27% | 1.11% |
| No, I have not and if asked I wouldn’t bet | 29.18% | 53.60% | 34.10% | 21.40% | 16.86% | 15.88% |
| Total willing to provide documents | 34.61% | 24.20% | 28.14% | 44.00% | 36.86% | 35.89% |
| Total unwilling to provide documents | 65.39% | 75.70% | 71.86% | 56.00% | 63.14% | 64.10% |
Players spending more than £100 per month
| Have you been asked by a gambling company to provide payslips, bank statements or similar documents as part of an affordability or proof of funds check? | All bettors | £101-200 | £201-300 | £301-500 | £501-1000 |
| Unweighted Base | 1,007 | 57 | 16 | 16 | 20 |
| Yes, I have and I provided the required documents | 16.16% | 30.04% | 31.87% | 50.63% | 40.65% |
| No, I have not but I would provide the documents if asked | 18.45% | 19.41% | 12.94% | 0.00% | 4.79% |
| Yes, I have, but I didn’t provide the documents and bet with a different licensed company instead | 3.92% | 12.40% | 6.73% | 0.00% | 15.35% |
| Yes, I have but I didn’t provide the documents and bet with a different unlicensed company instead | 0.90% | 1.77% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Yes, I have but I didn’t provide the documents and stopped betting | 0.79% | 1.70% | 0.00% | 6.45% | 0.00% |
| No, I have not and if asked I wouldn’t provide the documents and would bet with a different licensed company instead | 27.40% | 24.19% | 36.36% | 30.49% | 28.90% |
| No, I have not and if asked I wouldn’t provide the documents and would bet with an unlicensed company instead | 3.20% | 5.19% | 12.10% | 6.45% | 5.12% |
| No, I have not and if asked I wouldn’t bet | 29.18% | 5.31% | 0.00% | 5.98% | 5.20% |
| Total willing to provide documents | 34.61% | 49.45% | 44.81% | 50.63% | 45.44% |
| Total unwilling to provide documents | 65.39% | 50.56% | 55.19% | 49.37% | 54.57% |
* Players spending more than £1,000 per month were excluded as numbers were too small to be statistically significant.
However, while willingness to undergo affordability checks does seem to increase among players who spend more on a monthly basis, even among those spending £100-plus per month, less than half were open to affordability checks.
One big difference between players at lower spend levels and those spending more than £100 was the likelihood of players stopping gambling if asked to undergo checks. While 53.6% of those betting less than £5 said they wouldn’t gamble if faced with affordability checks, just 5.31% said the same in the £101-200 per month category.
Higher spending players were more likely to have moved to a different licensed company rather than provide documents, but across all spending amounts a significant proportion of players reported plans to do so if asked to provide documents.
“Many players reported either having already moved to a different licensed operator or being willing to do so over affordability checks. Therefore, there is now a big question mark over what might happen if affordability checks become mandatory and all licensed operators have to impose them at certain levels,” said Moffat.
The survey also found that younger players were more willing to submit to financial checks. About one-third (33.34%) of those aged 18-24 said they had been asked for and provided documents, while 22.86% said they hadn’t been asked but would do so. In the 55-plus age group, the percentage of players reporting the same fell to 6.40% and 15.37%, respectively.
More details on this breakdown can be found in the full survey report, along with various other findings on the UK’s gambling habits.
ELA Games, a pioneering game supplier studio, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ewa Kaźmierska as Managing Director. This strategic leadership hire marks a pivotal moment in the studio’s journey, positioning ELA Games for accelerated growth and increased market penetration within the competitive iGaming sector.
Ewa brings over 15 years of senior leadership expertise, having successfully steered a game studio through periods of sustained growth and innovation. Her proven track record as a former Chief Executive Officer at multiple iGaming brands will be instrumental in driving ELA Games’ ambitious roadmap. Ewa’s appointment aligns with the studio’s commitment to excellence and reinforces its mission to deliver an exceptional portfolio that resonates across global markets.
ELA Games is gearing up for an impactful 2025, with Ewa at the helm to guide the studio’s expansion strategy. Her leadership will support the studio’s initiatives in establishing a strong market presence and enhancing product development to meet evolving industry demands.
Ewa commented on her new role, stating, “Joining ELA Games presents an incredible opportunity to lead a talented team with a clear vision for growth and innovation. ELA Games has the potential to become a leading force in the industry, and I am excited to contribute to its journey toward building a unique and influential gaming portfolio.”
The addition of Ewa Kaźmierska to ELA Games’ executive team underscores the studio’s dedication to robust growth and strategic excellence. With this leadership move, ELA Games is poised to strengthen its position as a premier game supplier in the iGaming landscape.
The post ELA Games Welcomes Ewa Kaźmierska As MD appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Here are this weeks latest slots releases compiled by European Gaming
Tom Horn Gaming invites bold adventurers to join Max Gold, the fearless explorer, as he delves deep into faraway lands, seeking hidden treasures, legendary jackpots, and mysteries waiting to be uncovered. With an array of exciting features, including the Hold & Win bonus game with jackpots and respins, shatter mode with increasing multipliers, stake booster, and bonus buy, Max Gold.
PopOK Gaming is thrilled to announce the release of its newest slot game, Spinosaurus – a captivating 3×5 slot that transports players back to the thrilling age of dinosaurs! With vibrant, colorful visuals and dynamic gameplay, Spinosaurus features the iconic, mighty dinosaur as your guide on an adventurous quest for massive wins. Players can immerse themselves in prehistoric excitement while aiming for incredible rewards.
Belatra Games has launched its pirate-themed title, Tortuga Codex. This 5×4 slot casts players on a journey on the hunt for untold riches buried on a mysterious island. A Skull symbol acts as the Wild and will substitute for any other symbol to increase the chances of a win. An intriguing element to the game lies in the Additional Reel feature which sits above the main frame. It’s in sync with the main reels, displaying Wild symbols, special pirate icons, and numbers from one to nine.
Vibra Gaming has unwrapped its latest release, Candy Loop, where if players trigger the Candy Round bonus they can max their win by up to 5000x in a game for all sweet-toothed slot fans. Set within a backdrop of clouds and sugar players will lap up this delicious classic three-stepper slot mechanic packed with sweet bonuses, free spins and wilds.
Zillion Games is thrilled to announce the release of Egypt’s Moon, a high-volatility slot that invites players to journey through the mysteries of ancient Egypt under a mesmerizing nighttime sky. Featuring Cleopatra, hidden treasures, and the essence of Egypt’s rich mythology, Egypt’s Moon promises an enthralling experience set against a captivating backdrop. This slot game offers players 25 paylines and an RTP of 96.75%, delivering both excitement and reward.
Having made a big splash with its popular Aqua Lord slot back in 2022, innovative software developer, Swintt, is preparing to dive beneath the waves once more in an action-packed sequel that now features new and improved Pearl Respins and even bigger prizes. Played out across five reels and ten fixed paylines, Aqua Lord 2 picks up where its predecessor left off by once again plunging players into a world of sunken treasures where sticky pearl symbols hold the key to unlocking huge wins of up to 6,000x the bet and two incredibly rewarding features.
Amusnet has released Extra Crown Dice. This latest addition to Amusnet’s online casino portfolio is a majestic dice slot filled with thrilling features. This 5-reel, 10 fixed lines dice game is based on one of the video slots, with redesigned symbols to look like dice. The kingdom of Extra Crown Dice is full of excitement with dice, sevens and eights, where fortunes await those bold enough to seize them. The Star and the Fleur-de-lis symbols are the Scatter symbols boosting the player’s winnings.
The dazzling dancefloor of Piggy Blitz returns with Piggy Blitz Disco Gold, the latest 6×4 online slot sensation from Play’n GO, boasting immersive features and endearing characters. The dancefloor is calling, and it’s shining brighter than ever! Piggy Blitz Disco Gold takes players back to the groovy days of the 1970s – where neon lights and disco beats set the stage for high-energy spins and big-time wins. Our favourite pigs are back, bringing glittering Cash Coins and the exclusive Gold Piggy Feature to this glitzy slot adventure.
Booming Games is going for goal with its first-ever instant win title, Ronaldinho Scores Shoot & Win, as it continues to leverage its partnership with the international footballing icon. Players step into the football boots of Ronaldinho and experience the thrills and excitement of trying to beat the keeper. Each shot the player takes could mean a big prize – there are 16 prizes in total with each kick potentially delivering at least 3 instant rewards.
The post Week 45/2024 slot games releases appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
ComeOn Group announced a significant milestone in its sportsbook expansion journey with the addition of sportsbook to their offering in Ontario following the successful acquisition of the required permits. This addition represents a strategic advancement in the Groups sportsbook growth trajectory where they are set to double its sportsbook business in the coming years.
ComeOn Group is one of 51 active operators in Ontario. The Ontario market has experienced robust growth since its launch, reaching C$6.7 billion in revenue in 2023.* By 2029, the market is forecasted to grow by a total of 29%, with 2024 expected to close with a 20% increase.
ComeOn keeps investing in its sportsbook business acceleration that is powered by its proprietary sportsbook platform and in-house risk management and trading team. As a multi product vertical operator, ComeOn is striving to give its customer base a safe and exciting entertainment destination and this approach is now expanded to their Ontario audience.
Juergen Reutter, Chief Executive Officer at ComeOn Group, said: “We are very excited about the opportunities this new milestone opens up for us. As a casino-led operator it represents a key part of our sportsbook strategy to double our business in the coming years. Like in any of our other markets, we are striving for a differentiated sportsbook entertainment experience that is powered by our in-house technology. Our goal is to deliver top-tier entertainment to our players while fostering safe and innovative gaming experiences.”
*Source – H2GC H2 Ontario Data 25.10.2024 (excl. Lottery)
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