Consultation response
Online games design and reverse withdrawals
Consultation response for online games design and reverse withdrawals and proposed changes to the design of online slots.
Contents
- Executive Summary
- Introduction
- Summary of responses
- - Introduction
- - Defining online slots within the Remote Technical Standards
- - Prohibiting multiple slot games
- - Introducing speed of play limits
- - Prohibiting player-led “spin stop” features
- - Prohibiting auto-play functionality for online slots
- - Prohibiting effects that give the illusion of “false wins”
- - Display of net position and time spent
- Evaluation of changes to slots games
- Prohibition of reverse withdrawals for all remote operators
- Testing
- Annex 1 – Summary of changes to RTS
- Annex 2 - Consumer research into auto-play
- Annex 3 – List of consultation responses
Evaluation of changes to slots games
There were a small number of responses who indicated that we should evaluate these changes. This reflects our intentions when it comes to evaluating the interventions contained in this document.
Our position
We have developed a theory of change model and once the new requirements are in place, we will measure their impact through consumer research, operational data on slots and compliance assessments.
In the short term we propose assessing the following headline metrics which will help understand changes in player behaviour, in addition to headline participation and GGY stats to inform context to these changes:
- The number and proportion of sessions which last >60 minutes
- The number and proportion of sessions which result in a sizeable loss to the player
- Changes in staking patterns.
In the longer term we will assess changes to the proportion of online slots players considered as problem gamblers or in the moderate-risk category on the PGSI scale. The timeframes associated with this will be longer than the short-term metrics.
In terms of player feedback, we will explore assessing the impact by seeking the views of those negatively impacted by gambling as well as how the package of measures has impacted the experience of the majority of players who do not experience harm.
We are currently exploring the methods by which we will collect this data.
We consider the proposed RTS updates and guidance gives us a clearer basis to raise standards and we will monitor the effectiveness of the guidance through our ongoing compliance and enforcement work. If this approach fails to deliver the outcomes required, we will revisit the need to impose more prescriptive requirements for specific licensees or general requirements.
Please note that details of how we will evaluate the ban on reverse withdrawals is contained in the following section, as it applies to all remote operators and not just online slots games.
Summary of responses Next section
Prohibition of reverse withdrawals for all remote operators
Last updated: 29 January 2021
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