This week, TheGamblest invited Šimon Vincze, the head of the Sustainable and Safe Gambling Department at Casino Guru, to be a guest for an interview.
In the interview, Šimon will discuss the history and potential benefits of Casino Guru, the main objectives of their newly launched self-exclusion project, the various stages of the project, his vision for the future of self-exclusion in the iGaming industry, and other interesting topics.
TheGamblest: Simon, let's start by learning about the history of Casino Guru and its potential advantages. What is the current status of this platform in the industry, and what special services does it offer?
Šimon: Casino Guru stands out in the online casino field with its unique approach to building a comprehensive database and conducting thorough assessments of operators. This approach sets us apart and establishes our position as a leading authority in the industry. Although we generate revenue through affiliates, our website is dedicated to serving players. Operating the largest online gambling community and the most comprehensive complaint resolution service highlights this point.
Of course, this does not mean that we can solve all problems. Without partners, and without treating these partners with respect, we would achieve nothing. Our principles are rooted in our values, data analysis, ethical standards, and experience in the online casino field, but we never simply entangle ourselves with a brand or website. We do our utmost to remain objective and explain why we believe some things are less safe for our visitors. My colleagues spend a lot of time working with casinos to make improvements to increase their safety index and provide better value for their players. Over time, we have assisted more than 500 online casinos and helped them change their terms and conditions.
Beyond that, my agenda focuses on having a positive impact on the broader online gambling community through social responsibility projects such as the global self-exclusion initiative or the Casino Guru Academy.
TheGamblest: Casino Guru recently launched a new project related to self-exclusion. Can you tell us how you came up with this idea and what the main purpose of the project is?
Šimon: When we considered the details of the self-exclusion process within a potential global system, we realized that each jurisdiction has different requirements. Currently, there is no international standard for online self-exclusion processes, and players from different countries are treated differently. This leads to unequal effectiveness and zero comparability. I started discussing this issue with Dr. Margaret Carran from City University London, and we decided to change this situation by launching a comprehensive project called "Self-Exclusion Standards." She leads this work and chairs our working group, with Casino Guru sponsoring and hosting meetings. The final paper will be submitted on behalf of the City of London, and the work results will be a set of recommendations to improve efficiency.
TheGamblest: What are the main stages of this project, and what are the goals of each stage?
Šimon: This work is divided into three stages: 1. Research and fact-finding—analyze existing online self-exclusion literature and collect current requirements from selected jurisdictions; 2. Working group meetings—reach consensus among 10 stakeholders with different experiences and expertise through a series of physical and remote meetings; 3. Broader consultation—collect feedback on the working group's findings from other industry stakeholders to ensure inclusiveness and reflect collective knowledge.
We are currently in the final stage, seeking responses from other industry stakeholders. This is a key part of the project, as it will ensure that the final results represent the voice of the broader community and provide the best outcomes for any organization protecting its players. You can submit your feedback here.
TheGamblest: What key elements do you think should be included in international self-exclusion standards to ensure their effectiveness and universal applicability?
Šimon: The current recommendations have many advantages that can bring positive results, but I do not want to elaborate too much here. However, I will mention the emergency button, which can immediately stop gambling. It is essentially a short-term self-exclusion that takes effect immediately and lasts for 24 or 48 hours. Unlike regular self-exclusion, players do not have to commit to not gambling for a long time or wait for the request to take effect. Research shows that taking a break can enhance spending control, and the emergency button is an excellent tool for regaining spending control.
TheGamblest: How do you think emerging technologies will affect future self-exclusion practices? What specific technological advancements do you think should be integrated into these standards?
Šimon: Due to the current trend of player verification, online self-exclusion is an imperfect concept. Most players are fully verified when they opt out, creating space for false positives. A breakthrough technology for self-exclusion would be a digital identity card based on certain technologies that can encrypt personal details and provide each player with an instantly matchable and 100% reliable unique identity proof. There's just one problem: players must appreciate and use it. An EU-wide regulation is about to be introduced, requiring EU merchants to offer such identity cards, but consumers can still choose. The risk is that players will choose not to directly track their options. However, this is a consumer behavior issue, and the most convenient journey wins. Although there are risks, I also see great potential, as verification using a digital identity card would be seamless.
TheGamblest: Šimon, what do you think are the biggest barriers users face when trying to use self-exclusion tools? How can these barriers be addressed to improve accessibility and usability?
Šimon: Self-exclusion falls into the category of responsible gambling tools and is highly stigmatized in some regions. Going through this process labels players and often makes them feel ashamed. This issue is more comprehensive and can apply to a comprehensive consideration of a person's gambling habits and potential harm. Some jurisdictions are taking proactive steps to portray self-exclusion as less of a negative thing. Another barrier is that self-exclusion is widely
