Last updated on September 20th, 2024
Responsible Gambling Index – In-Depth Analysis
It has been exactly one year since we unveiled our unique Responsible Gambling Index Scoring System to evaluate how responsible and transparent the online casinos we promote are, giving us the chance to perform extensive analysis.
One year and 190+ online casino reviews later, we conducted in-depth research so that we can get a comprehensive insight into exactly what responsible gambling tools and features the casinos regulated by the top three gambling regulators actually have, and more importantly, what they lack.
The three regulators in question, and consequently, the online gambling authorities with the biggest global presence that regulate 70% of the online casinos out there, are the Curaçao Gaming Control Board, the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), and the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC).
The way that we conducted our research and in-depth analysis is that we took the 12 tools for responsible gambling from our Responsible Gambling Index and simply applied them to each of the 190+ online casinos we promote, regulated by these authorities. Then, by using simple math, we were able to come up with a report that shows the percentage of what the casinos regulated by the three leading regulators lack with pinpoint accuracy.
*For more information on our Responsible Gambling Index scoring system and the responsible gambling tools that we use to evaluate operators, simply click on this link of the official release of the Index, or use the picture below consisting of the 12 responsible gambling tools as a point of reference.
The Breakdown
Now that we got that out of the way, let’s have a look at how each of the top three gambling regulators in the online gambling realm fares when it comes to offering the full spectrum of 12 responsible gambling tools and features.
This will give us a clear insight as to which gambling authority is most transparent and nurtures the ultimate responsible gambling ecosystem.
Consequently, after thorough research, we got conclusive results as to what responsible gambling tools each casino regulated by one of these three authorities lacks, and with that, in which aspect they should improve.
Curaçao Gaming Control Board Casinos Analysis
Given that most online casinos are regulated by the Curaçao Gaming Control Board, it is only natural to begin our analysis with operators regulated by this authority.
Based on our research, we found that a whopping 94.37% of the online casinos with a Curaçao license lack the Budget Calculator tool. In second place are online casinos that lack the Reality Check tool with 80.99%, with online casinos that lack Session Limits and Self Assessment following closely with 72.54% and 70.42%, respectively. We round the top 5 with the Loss Limits tool, a feature that is lacking in 62.68% of the online casinos regulated by the Curaçao Gaming Control Board.
What is particularly interesting is that none of the Curaçao Gaming Control Board casinos offer all the 12 responsible gambling tools. In other words, every online casino with a Curaçao license lacks at least one of the 12 tools, which is a concerning trend, but not surprising, given the leniency of this gambling authority when it comes to imposing rules and regulations.
Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) Analysis
Just as we expected, the online casinos regulated by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) fare better than the Curaçao-licensed operators, given the no-nonsense approach of the Malta Gaming Authority as a gambling regulator.
When it comes to responsible gambling tools offered by online casinos with an MGA license, 96.77% of the operators lack a Budget Calculator. There is a steep drop from first to second place, as the second responsible gambling tool that lacks among MGA casinos is Session Limits with 41.94%, followed by Loss Limits in third with 38.71% of the casinos, with Reality Check in fourth with 35.48%. and Wagering Limits in fifth with 32.26% of the online casinos lacking this tool.
What is interesting about MGA casinos and our Responsible Gambling Index, however, is that all of these operators have the four following responsible gambling tools:
- Prevention of Underage Gambling
- Deposit Limits
- Responsible Gambling Policy
- Self Exclusion
United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) Analysis
Similar to MGA online casinos, operators regulated by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) offer even a wider spectrum of responsible gambling tools and features when compared to their respective counterparts.
The trend of casinos lacking a Budget Calculator continues as even UKGC operators lack this feature the most, just like Curaçao and MGA casinos, with 94.74% of UKGC operators lacking this tool. In second place there is another steep drop, as 36.84% of casinos lack the Loss Limits feature. Interestingly, third and fourth place is a tie between Reality Check and Wagering Limits, as 31.58% of UKGC casinos lack these tools, rounding the top five with Session Limits, where 26.32% of casinos lack this feature.
When it comes to UKGC operators, what is particularly impressive is that all casinos with a UK license have the following five responsible gambling tools, making the UKGC the gambling authority with the best overall score.
- Deposit Limits
- Responsible Gambling Policy
- Ethical and Responsible Marketing
- Prevention of Underage Gambling
- Self Exclusion
The 3 Essential Responsible Gambling Tools Lacking By License
In summary, the results from our analysis show that there are four responsible gambling tools that are lacking with all three gambling regulators:
- Budget Calculator
- Reality Check
- Session Limits
- Loss Limits
Moreover, our research showed that the number one responsible gambling tool that all three gambling regulators lack is the Budget Calculator, with 94.37% of Curaçao casinos, 96.77% of MGA casinos, and 94.74% of UKGC casinos lacking this tool. This means that this is an area that needs the most improvement, as the number of online casinos that lack this tool is alarmingly concerning.
Speaking of averages and percentages, the online casinos that operate with a Curaçao license scored the lowest score on our transparency scale.
Second place goes to online casinos with an MGA license, as these operators showed a much bigger transparency thanks to offering even more responsible gambling tools and features.
First place goes to UKGC and the online casinos regulated by this gambling authority, as they scored the highest average grade and offered the most responsible gambling tools.
Final Thoughts
We hope that this in-depth analysis will provide better insight into the responsible gambling policies and practices of each of the three leading gambling authorities. The reason why we conducted this research is twofold: to get a conclusive report of how responsible are the operators in the industry in reality, and what areas they need to improve in order to reach their full potential.
Consequently, the main goal of our research is to motivate and encourage online gaming operators to re-evaluate their responsible gambling policies and with that, enhance and create the ultimate responsible gambling environment for the driving force of the gambling machinery, the players.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the top three online gambling authorities?
The top three online gambling regulators in the world are the Curacao Control Board, the Malta Gaming Authority, and the United Kingdom Gambling Commission.
Which is the most transparent and rigorous gambling regulator?
Our in-depth analysis showed that online casinos regulated by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission offer the most regulated gambling environment, followed closely by the Malta Gaming Authority in second, and the Curacao iGaming regulator in third.
What is the Responsible Gambling Index?
The Responsible Gambling Index is a unique grading system created by Gamblers Connect meant to evaluate the transparency and responsible gambling policies of the online casinos promoted by Gamblers Connect.
What are the 12 tools for responsible gambling?
The 12 responsible gambling tools are self-exclusion, prevention of underage gambling, access account history, loss limits, deposit limits, session limits, reality check, ethical marketing, self-assessment, budget calculator, responsible gambling policy, and wagering limits.
What are the grades in the Responsible Gambling Index?
The Responsible Gambling Index consists of 5 grades, including Poor, Concern, Average, Great, and Exceptional.
