Safer gaming is the main industry pillar in 2024, so operators, regulatory authorities, and governments collaborate to provide customers with better condition and enhanced data protection. Multiple measures are initiated to increase user awareness about the problem and motivate them to develop responsible gambling behaviours both online and offline. However, providing information is often not enough for compulsive players, as they need stricter mechanisms to cope with the problem. In this case, self-exclusion is the most efficient solution that would definitely be beneficial in African countries.
Impact of Self-Exclusion on the iGaming Market
Currently, the UK is the only country that has already implemented GamStop, the mandatory self-exclusion program covering all online casinos and bookmaker sites registered in the jurisdiction. This tool allows restricted access to potentially harmful content for a term ranging from six months to five years. Compulsive players can select the period themselves and take time for treatment. At the same time, this program is imperfect, and many users prefer to get around it.
Multiple non-GamStop casinos listed on NonGamStopBets provide users with fair and transparent services and motivate them to gamble responsibly and stick to budget limits when engaging in this risky entertainment. Moreover, these gambling operators offer multiple mechanisms to fight compulsive gaming among African players. Age verifications, AI-based tools for detecting excessive activities, safer gaming promotional campaigns, and instant access to helplines and therapies are among them. However, African regulatory bodies still discuss the need for self-exclusion tools in local online casinos and sportsbooks, and here’s why.
Importance of Self-Exclusion Tools for African Players
Africa is a developing gambling market, and the rapid evolution of the digital casino world is a titbit for youngsters. However, this population is most often targeted by gambling-related disorders: according to reports, Kenya has the highest number of people engaged in iGaming (76%), while Ghana has the lowest (42%). In any case, the continent’s residents show increased interest in this entertainment, and the lack of regulations and control over the industry significantly affects user behaviours.
Users can join online casinos with barely any restrictions, which often results in overspending and compulsive problems. Informing players about possible threats and diseases is not always efficient, and self-exclusion comes in handy here. Launching the program completely restricts access to gambling sites and other platforms for vulnerable individuals. Have a look at the main benefits that the implementation of this tool in Africa will bring.
Avoiding Severe Mental Health Disorders
Noticing the first symptoms of gambling addiction mentioned on the internet and joining the self-exclusion program can help users minimise the risk of worsening their condition. Players can voluntarily launch the tool and enjoy gambling-free lives with additional support from regulatory authorities and non-profit organisations. GamStop and its alternatives cannot be suspended, so users will have to finish their self-exclusion term.
Development of Healthy Gambling Habits
Besides limited access to gaming sites, self-exclusion tools strongly collaborate with helplines and treatment centres providing support to gambling-addicted individuals. Therefore, users registering in the program can take advantage of timely assistance and guidance on future actions. Since players join self-exclusion voluntarily, they are likely to cope with their gambling habits, so additional therapies are the best solution. Users will be able to control themselves and limit their expenses in online casinos after returning to this risky entertainment.
Thorough Control Over User Actions
Many think that they can return to their gambling habits when the self-exclusion ends, but this is a false opinion. Of course, users won’t be restricted from casinos and bookmakers forever and can still gamble again. However, GamStop has kept customers’ data for years and continues monitoring their activities on risky websites. If the technology notices excessive gambling or increased spending on the platform, it notifies users about the potential problem.
Minimising Gambling Addiction in African Countries
This problem is on the agenda across the African continent and beyond, so implementing additional mechanisms for promoting safer gaming practices is essential. The usage of a self-exclusion program will help governments and regulatory authorities gain more control over the industry and provide transparency and security. Increased user awareness about the potential negative consequences of uncontrolled gaming will lead to reduced addiction rates and improved population well-being.
Final Thoughts
Currently, African countries’ politics don’t have any mandatory self-exclusion mechanisms that will limit user access to gambling and betting sites and decrease the number of compulsive players. However, the industry has been booming in recent years, and governments aim to implement more regulations to make the sector safer for all parties. Using tools like GamStop will help increase customer awareness about the problem and motivate users to behave responsibly when engaging in this risky entertainment. All in all, such an approach will help African governments to significantly affect gambling addiction rates.
