The gaming industry has grown considerably over the last few decades. In the UK, the industry takes in around £15 billion each year – and the figure is growing.
Of course, gambling is a highly addictive pastime, and modern gaming machines have been optimised to keep players engaged for as long as possible. As such, it’s rightly regulated so that vulnerable players are protected.
Increasingly, casino operators are trying to win customer trust by being up-front about what the game actually does, under the digital hood. A loss of trust can, in the long run, be disastrous for consumer confidence, and so it’s rational for operators to provide detailed odds, and support services to offer help to players who need it.
The trend toward transparency is most obvious in larger, more sophisticated online operators, like the online casino at Mr Q. But it’s increasingly evident in smaller ones, too.
Transparent Data Practices and Privacy Policies
Online gaming necessarily involves handing over sensitive personal data to companies with which the player might not be familiar. If the company in question can demonstrate a willingness to comply with data protection law, and to maintain good standards when it comes to privacy, that company might be more likely to win a customer – one that might remain loyal for decades. By contrast, a company with a poor reputation might not only fail to attract new players, but also to keep existing ones.
Fair Play and RNG Certification
How can we be sure that the dice aren’t loaded, and that the deck isn’t stacked? In the online world, it’s more difficult than ever. An unscrupulous operator might tinker with their random number generator in order to tilt the odds in their favour. It’s often a good idea to demonstrate that this hasn’t been done, by bringing in an independent auditor to approve the random number generator, and to publish Return-to-Player (RTP) rates.
Responsible Gambling Tools and Player Protection
It’s worth granting players access to the tools they need to control their spending behaviour. This can be done through a combination of time and deposit limits, and by participating in self-exclusion schemes like GAMSTOP. These are features that can be taken as an indicator of a casino’s trustworthiness, even by players who do not intend to use them.
Licensing and Regulatory Compliance
If your casino doesn’t hold a license from the appropriate local regulator, like the Gambling Commission in the UK, then it might find itself in legal trouble – and having to deal with the reputational damage that comes with it.
