Player Protection: Strategies Against Gambling Addiction

In France, the National Gambling Authority (ANJ) plays a central role, overseeing both market regulation and player protection programs. Operators are required to develop and annually update their measures for addiction prevention, submit reports on the concrete actions they are taking to reduce risks, and fund research into the impact of gambling: a portion of their revenue (based on a percentage of the total amount wagered) is allocated to such studies and to prevention initiatives.

The Ministry of Health is also involved. It issues methodological guidelines for operators, shapes approaches to protecting children and adolescents from gambling, and takes part in developing national prevention materials. The country operates a 24/7 helpline for gamblers and their families, offering counseling and support on issues related to gambling addiction.

Ahead of major sporting events, ANJ launches targeted campaigns against ludomania, with a particular focus on sports betting. In 2024, prior to the European Football Championship, the regulator rolled out a large-scale awareness campaign highlighting the risks of betting addiction. Developed by the advertising agency Rosbeef, the campaign featured bold yellow banners and real-life stories of gambling addicts to illustrate the consequences of uncontrolled betting.

A key element of the campaign was directing people to the specialized platform Evalujey, where users can assess their gambling habits, receive advice, and access self-control tools and support. The initiative also included social advertising on Snapchat and video testimonials from individuals who had already experienced the consequences of gambling addiction.

Under the French model, operators cannot rely solely on formal warnings:

• They are required to inform players about the risks of addiction and potential financial losses;
• They must implement self-limitation and self-exclusion tools, as well as provide links to helplines and specialized support services;
• They are obligated to report to the regulator on the preventive measures and responsible gaming programs they have actually put in place.

The entire market is overseen by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). Holding a license in Great Britain automatically entails the obligation to:

• verify the age and identity of players before allowing them to place bets;
• monitor for signs of gambling addiction;
• implement responsible gambling tools and cooperate with support services.
  

One of the key measures is the restriction of stakes on online slots. Following consultations in 2023–2024, the government approved:

• a maximum of £5 per spin for players aged 25 and over;
• a maximum of £2 per spin for players aged 18 to 24.

At the same time, game design rules are being revised. Spin speeds are being slowed down, deceptive effects (such as losses disguised as wins) are prohibited, and autoplay is restricted — all aimed at reducing the speed of losses and lowering the “stickiness” of slots.

A key element of the British approach is financial checks designed to ensure that gambling remains within a person’s real means.

From 2024, so-called “frictionless player protection checks” are being introduced:

• Operators are required to conduct additional checks for financial vulnerability if a player deposits more than £500 within a 30‑day period (the first threshold).
• A system is planned that includes both “light-touch vulnerability checks” and more in-depth affordability assessments for high levels of spending, in order to prevent gambling with borrowed money or funds essential for daily living.

These checks are carried out through data requests, scoring models, and analysis of the sources of funds. The goal is to detect early on when a person is gambling excessively relative to their income.

The UKGC requires strict age and identity checks before a player is allowed to place a bet or fund their account. In 2024, the Commission strengthened the rules:

• all land-based operators (including smaller outlets) are now required to undergo testing for compliance with age restrictions;
• controls on ID verification and the prevention of underage access to slots, betting, and gaming machines have been tightened.

The Gambling Act white paper and subsequent consultations introduced a comprehensive set of measures related to online design and player protection:

• mandatory deposit, stake, and session time limits;
• pop-up notifications showing session duration and losses;
• stricter requirements for displaying odds and game structure;
• a ban on designs that encourage “chasing losses” or obscure real risks.
  

Operators must actively promote self‑limitation and self‑exclusion features, and provide players with easy access to limit settings.

The UKGC continuously collects data on player behavior and the prevalence of problem gambling. The Commission’s guidance emphasizes that new measures (such as stake limits, financial checks, game design changes and age verification) must be evidence-based and regularly reviewed.

Each state decides for itself whether to legalize casinos, online betting and iGaming. Besides, it sets its own responsible gambling requirements in laws and licensing rules. There are nationwide recommendations and standards (such as the Internet Responsible Gambling Standards from the National Council on Problem Gambling, NCPG), but studies show that, on average, states implement only about 32 out of 82 recommended player protection standards, meaning the level of protection varies widely.

At the federal level, the SAFE Bet Act has been proposed, aiming to establish uniform minimum standards for online betting: advertising restrictions, regulation of micro-betting, payment requirements, and mandatory responsible gaming programs. States would retain their own markets but would need to meet federal standards to continue operating.

In nearly all states where gambling is legal, there is a self-exclusion mechanism. Players can voluntarily add themselves to a list and prohibit their own access to gambling activities within that state.

Examples:

• In New York, the Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program allows individuals to exclude themselves from all forms of gambling at once: land-based casinos, online betting, lotteries, video slots, fantasy sports. Operators are required to block such individuals from making deposits, placing bets, participating in loyalty programs, and receiving marketing materials.
• In Pennsylvania, self-exclusion applies to casinos, internet gaming, video terminals, and fantasy betting. The goal is to distance the individual from triggers and provide time to seek help.
• In Illinois, the Self-Exclusion Program (SEP) has been in place since 2002, initially covering only casinos. After the sports betting law was passed, it was expanded to include sports wagering. Individuals on the list are prohibited from participating in betting and may forfeit any winnings if they violate the ban.
  

In all of these programs, operators are required to have procedures in place for identifying and properly handling self-excluded players, and to designate responsible gaming officers.

States and regulators require licensed operators to provide a set of basic responsible gambling tools:

• deposit, loss, time limits;
• reminders about session duration and spending amounts;
• easy access to information about risks and helplines;
• links to self-exclusion programs and organizations addressing gambling addiction.
  

Major operators (especially publicly traded groups) supplement these requirements with their own initiatives: behavioral pattern monitoring, automated alerts for suspicious or high-risk patterns, AI‑driven data analysis tools, and chatbots that provide information on self‑exclusion as well as available support options.

Some states place emphasis on offline prevention and public awareness:

• In Massachusetts, the GameSense program operates in casinos, featuring information kiosks and staff who advise players, remind them about budgeting, and offer the PlayMyWay tool, which allows users to set monthly limits and track their spending.
• States fund helplines and addiction treatment programs through taxes on gambling revenue. This is part of a public health strategy.

At the same time, health experts criticize many regulatory frameworks for focusing on treatment rather than prevention, and advocate for stricter limits on advertising, betting types, and betting frequency for all players — not just those already identified as at-risk.

With the expansion of online betting (sports betting is now legal in most states) there is growing debate that fragmented state‑by‑state regulations fail to ensure consistent player protection. NCPG reports reveal significant gaps in most jurisdictions regarding notifications, affordability checks, nationwide self‑exclusion, and data transparency.

This has led to federal initiatives such as the SAFE Bet Act, which proposes:

• restrictions on advertising during sports broadcasts;
• mandatory affordability checks for players with high spending levels;
• limits on VIP programs;
• the creation of a national self‑exclusion database, allowing individuals to block their access across multiple states and operators with a single decision.

In most countries, gambling regulation follows two main tracks: licensing operators and establishing basic responsible gambling requirements. Responsibility for player protection is often delegated to the operators themselves. They are expected to implement limits, self-exclusion, age verification, and awareness measures. However, coordination among regulators is limited, and unified national systems are almost nonexistent.

In South Africa, gambling regulation is overseen by the National Gambling Board (NGB) together with provincial authorities, which promote a stricter model of player protection.

Key requirements for licensed online casinos and bookmakers include:

• strict age and identity verification before allowing access to gambling;
• self-exclusion programs that enable players to voluntarily block their access to gambling for a specified period;
• mandatory spending limits (daily, weekly, or monthly deposit caps) that cannot exceed thresholds set by regulators;
• advertising restrictions as well as enhanced oversight of both land‑based and online operators.
  

It is particularly noted that the new regulations in South Africa also apply to online platforms such as Betway Casino, aiming to create a unified approach to consumer protection. The same age verification checks, limits, and self-exclusion measures apply both offline and online.

In Uganda, the National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB) focuses on protecting vulnerable groups and combating illegal betting:

• The regulator works with the police to shut down unlicensed betting outlets and restrict minors’ access to gambling;
• Self-exclusion tools have been introduced. By 2025, nearly 2,000 players had voluntarily excluded themselves from platforms, indicating growing awareness;
• One of the strictest age limits in Africa has been set (25 years old for legal betting) to minimize the involvement of young adults.

Analysts note that as the market grows, investors and operators are increasingly required to meet stricter responsible gambling standards and community protection measures.

In Africa, continent-wide self-exclusion programs (such as a unified database) do not yet exist, but various solutions are being used:

• Some national and private initiatives have launched self-exclusion and recovery portals (for example, SafePlay, introduced in 2025, combines blocking features with specialist support);
• Some players turn to international services like GamStop or GamBan, which block access to UK-licensed platforms that accept users from Africa, although such programs are not formally African in origin.
  

It is estimated that more than 80% of participants in such programs report an improvement in their condition after a period of self-exclusion, confirming the effectiveness of this tool as part of a broader protection strategy.

Recent reviews of the African iGaming sector highlight that new regulations increasingly include:

• deposit and loss limits, mandatory for licensed operators;
• time-out features (temporary breaks from gameplay);
• elements of player behavior monitoring and age verification;
• the use of digital payment systems (mobile money, and in some cases blockchain), with attention to transaction transparency and the tracking of suspicious activity.
  

Regulators anticipate tightening measures. The response to market growth involves stricter responsible gambling tools, enhanced age verification, and the use of technology to monitor problematic patterns.

The main difficulties include:

• Responsible gambling programs in many countries are still immature, with few requirements and limited oversight;
• A lack of coordination between different regulators makes it difficult to track self‑excluded players who re‑register under another identity or with a different operator;
• The absence of unified standards for limits, advertising, and monitoring means each regulator moves at its own pace.
  

At the same time, the trend is clear. As the market grows, international operators enter the space, and attention to financial crimes intensifies, African regulators are gradually moving toward stricter player protection measures like limits, self‑exclusion, age verification, and the use of technology for behavioral monitoring.

The regulatory path typically follows this sequence: first, legalize the online market, then establish responsible gambling rules. New legislation almost always includes provisions on:

• prohibiting access to minors;
• mandatory self-control tools (limits, self-exclusion);
• advertising requirements;
• funding for responsible gaming programs.
  

The level of detail and stringency varies significantly from country to country, but the trend is consistent: moving away from a “gray” market toward licensed operators with a duty to protect players.

In 2024–2025, Brazil approved a comprehensive set of regulations for betting and online casinos, including a dedicated ordinance on responsible gambling, Ordinance No. 1.231.

Key player protection measures:

• Mandatory deposit, loss, and time limits: operators must implement tools that help players stay within safe boundaries;
• Self-exclusion: players can voluntarily block their access to betting and casinos, and operators are required to provide this option;
• Strict KYC procedures, including mandatory facial biometrics at registration, to prevent access by minors, prohibited individuals, and multiple accounts;
• A ban on credit card and cryptocurrency payments for betting, aimed at reducing the risk of gambling with borrowed money or hard-to-trace funds;
• Mandatory monitoring of player behavior and intervention when signs of compulsive gambling are detected.
  

Advertising requirements are also explicitly outlined: misleading advertising is prohibited, operators are required to promote responsible gambling, and all marketing must comply with the rules of the advertising self-regulatory body CONAR.

Colombia was the first country in Latin America to legalize online gambling (since 2016) and to establish a comprehensive player protection system through its regulator, Coljuegos.

Key Elements:

• Mandatory responsible gambling programs for all operators, with clear objectives, action plans, and tools for player education;
• An informational platform called “Toma el Control” (Take Control), which explains gambling as a form of entertainment, outlines the associated risks, and offers self-assessment tests and advice on maintaining control;
• New Resolution 22654 of 2024 has tightened requirements: operators must run awareness campaigns, offer online tests to identify risk factors, and actively engage with vulnerable groups;
• Mandatory self-exclusion mechanisms for online games (such as Baloto, SuperAstro, etc.): players can temporarily or permanently block access to specific games or the entire platform.

Additionally, Coljuegos requires operators to maintain minimum RTP levels (e.g., 83% for online games), submit transparent reports, and pay taxes, a portion of which is allocated to healthcare and social programs. This, too, is part of the responsible market concept.

Since February 9, 2024, Peru has launched its own online licensing framework, with a focus on consumer protection, tax transparency, and market integrity. The new law centers on:

• mandatory responsible gambling measures;
• requirements for fair advertising and consumer information;
• access control mechanisms and prevention of misuse.
  

In other countries in the region (Argentina, Mexico, Chile) regulation remains uneven and often depends on the province. However, new legislative proposals increasingly include provisions on:

• self-exclusion;
• deposit limits;
• a ban on gambling for certain categories of citizens;
• funding for programs aimed at combating gambling addiction.
  

1. Regulation in the region is being developed with player protection built in from the start. New laws in Brazil, Colombia, and Peru initially include responsible gambling provisions, rather than adding them later.
2. Key tools include limits, self-exclusion, strict KYC, payment and advertising restrictions.
3. Colombia and Brazil are emerging as reference models for the region: Coljuegos for responsible gaming programs and self-exclusion, and Brazil for its integration of biometrics, credit card bans, and strong advertising controls.