GamProtect Launch: Keynote and Q&A Session

Miller reminded that GamProtect can have a significant impact on players and gambling operators. The Gambling Commission initiated a project back in 2020 to create a “single customer view” system that will allow operators to jointly monitor player safety.

One of the first tasks of the project was to ensure its legality, especially in terms of player privacy. It was important to find a solution for how to use consumer data without violating data protection laws. This was a key moment for the successful launch of GamProtect.

Miller noted that operators often face difficulties due to the fact that they are unable to monitor player behavior outside of their platform, while many players have multiple accounts on different sites. This is why GamProtect has become an indispensable tool that gives operators a “comprehensive view” of the risks for players.

The GamProtect system uses flags that players voluntarily check to identify risk. However, the platform does not require the collection of large amounts of transaction data, but only uses basic information such as the player’s name and date of birth. As of September 2024, more than 5,500 players at risk have been identified since the system’s launch in April, with 66% of them identified as problematic by more than one operator.

Miller stressed that participation in the GamProtect system is still voluntary, but it gives operators a chance to stay one step ahead of possible future legislative requirements. He also pointed out the project’s close connection with the White Paper on gambling reform in the UK, hinting at the possibility of mandatory use of the system in the future.

In closing, Miller noted that the project was the result of four years of work and collaboration between various organizations and had already proven its effectiveness in protecting players from the harmful effects of gambling.