Charter “Duty of Care” : protecting players in a digital world

In a joint effort to promote a safer gaming environment, Napoleon Sports & Casino, together with five Belgian gaming operators, signed the “Duty of Care” Charter on Tuesday.

This signature marks an important step towards a structured and scientifically-backed prevention policy against problem gambling behaviour. These efforts are driven by the conviction that a safe and responsible gaming environment is crucial for players and society. 

Digitalisation has made access to gambling considerably easier, and successive confinements have had a lasting impact on consumer habits. In just a few years, the market has completely reversed, with two-thirds of the market taking place online today, compared with just one-third in 2019.

Although the vast majority of players participate responsibly and recreationally, gaming operators acknowledge the need to proactively address potentially problematic gaming behavior. According to a study from Sciensano, around 0.9% of the population is likely at risk to develop a gambling addiction, which can be associated with serious emotional, relationship and financial problems. 

The “Duty of Care” Charter lays the foundation for an effective prevention policy and commits each operator to:  

• Detection System: an advanced system based on algorithms, artificial intelligence, and scientifically supported criteria to identify potentiallly risky behavior.

• Protective Measures: actions and/or recommendations to protect the player, including information provision, proposals for deposit limits, reality checks, self-exclusion, and general exclusion.

• Education and Training: staff is trained to identify potential problems and take appropriate actions.

• Transparency with Regulators: sharing the implemented prevention policy with the Gaming Commission. 

In the long term, our aim is to establish an independent control mechanism in collaboration with the Gaming Commission. 

Napoleon Sports & Casino is fully committed to creating an environment where adult players in Belgium can participate in gaming responsibly and safely. 

More information can be found here