In mid-December 2020, CasinoBeats published an interview with the developers discussing the rationale for introducing a maximum bet cap. This measure has been discussed and considered by the UK regulator for some time now as a way to prevent gambling addiction.
The vendors who took part in the conversation calmly accept this possibility, simply saying that they will need to adapt to the changes. They support the desire to protect the players, but are skeptical that this measure will lead to the desired results. Read the translation of the interview below.
What are the arguments for max bet limits, and do you think they are fair?
Rob Procter (Scientific Games): We fully support the protection of players and for our business this is a key point in terms of platform capabilities and game design. Player protection is definitely the goal of introducing bet limits, but whether it can actually be achieved in this way is still a moot point.
As we have seen in the land-based sector, hard limits can at times have the opposite effect, which is likely to be exacerbated when applied online. There will always be a minority of players who want large payouts. The risk is that implementing betting caps without adequate supportive measures or proper impact research could lead to churn to other casino content or even unregulated sites.
The situation with each player is unique, and therefore the general limit is unlikely to be effective. Such restrictions must be seen in a broader context, as part of a wider player protection toolkit.
Richard Hogg (BetGames.TV): As the year of the pandemic approaches, European regulators are doing their best to provide increased player protection during times of heightened economic volatility with most gamblers locked down in their homes and need entertainment during quarantine.
Looking back at 2020, I believe the market has done a tremendous job of regulating this year. Aside from a few questionable items, the small number of negative headlines regarding our industry is proof of this. However, if regulators like the Greek authorities think that the best move to protect players is a maximum bet limit, then I think it's the providers like us and the operators that are responsible for ensuring that they thrive under such limits.
Arcangelo Lonoce (Habanero): The point of the max bet limit is to force players to play responsibly and reduce problem behavior. The idea is to move certain player relationships with online gaming in a more sustainable direction. This can definitely have the desired effect on gamblers (in fact, preventing a pathological approach to gambling) - also, given the positive publicity that will accompany the changes, there is no doubt that this can help change attitudes towards our industry.
Is it fair? It all depends on what the limit will be. If it's too low, then it's unfair to players and potentially counterproductive. They spend their money and by definition, they are over 18 and should be free to do as they please. What's more, if they don't get the experience they want, they'll just go somewhere else to provide that experience, which are unlicensed venues and potentially lacking player protection tools.
Ivan Kravchuk (Evoplay Entertainment): In recent years, the UK gambling sector has faced increased regulatory pressure to cut the maximum bet limit in online casino games to £2 in order to reduce the risk of harm to players.
On the one hand, such changes will be an effective asset in protecting players from irresponsible betting by providing a platform for a safe gaming experience with a focus on entertainment. On the other hand, this measure directly restricts players who prefer to play at high stakes. Casino operators and game providers will be forced to respond to this emerging demand in order to avoid unbalanced gaming offerings and retain high stakes players.
Do you believe this will affect the behavior of most players? Will high stakes players continue to interact with the casino in the same way?
Richard Hogg (BetGames.TV):Being a provider of live betting games, we are accustomed to an average bet in the region of two euros, which is promoted by most regulators. We've become one of the top performers internationally this year because our products offer an all-around value proposition - combinations of low cost and long sessions that don't empty players' pockets.
Of course, I have no doubt that there is a demographic of players who prefer the higher stakes approach, and they will definitely be annoyed by such restrictions. Again, suppliers will need to support operators' partners in converting such players to new ways of playing that are more favored by the regulator.
Arcangelo Lonoce (Habanero): If the limits are reasonable, then they won't affect the betting behavior of most slot players. Board games, however, are a different matter. Take roulette for example: if you set it to a maximum bet of €2, you will probably lose customers.
Based on the mechanics, it's not hard to see why this would be a problem. The glut of betting patterns on a game like roulette, or the low payouts of games like blackjack or baccarat, means that many players will need a level where they can enjoy the game without making gambling a sterile, boring activity.
In essence, this deprives them of the chance to enjoy the very essence of the game they are playing. This, again, is in the interests of player protection: low roulette table limits can lead to a churn of players to unlicensed sites that allow them to enjoy their favorite games, which again defeats the purpose of the regulator.
Ivan Kravchuk (Evoplay Entertainment): The gambling experience for regular players will not change. Their rates will vary within the average, which is definitely lower than the maximum bet limit. The greatest effect will be felt by players who prefer to make large bets and choose slots with high volatility.
As a result, it is important to understand that players will not spend more time gambling to make up for lower payouts. An increase in the duration of gaming sessions is unlikely - people will continue to spend, say, on average an hour a day playing online casino games, regardless of the betting limit. Therefore, more attention should be paid to the quality of the product itself.
Rob Procter (Scientific Games): Proponents of the max bet cap often forget that the vast majority of players are gambling responsibly. While it is possible to segment players into certain categories, they still remain individuals with unique wealth and risk profiles. It is a delicate balance to ensure that the measures taken effectively affect those who are vulnerable while not scaring away the core player base who play responsibly. But in the end, this is what we need to achieve.
For players who have a stable income and who prefer a more intense experience, the imposition of a limit may well push them down an undesirable path in search of high-stakes opportunities, such as the black markets. To avoid this possibility, we need to move away from the current obsession with betting limits and adopt a more evidence-based approach.
Source: https://www.casinobeats.com/2020/12/15/casinobeats-roundtable-maximum-stake-limits/
