Can iGaming be both profitable and ethical? On the latest episode of the Data Roll podcast, our CEO, Prof. Dr. Andreas Ditsche, confronts this very question. He argues that ethics is foundational for a sustainable iGaming industry.

Throughout his discussion with Stanisław Szostak, Prof. Dr. Ditsche provides examples of gambling perceptions across countries and shares insightful data. He calls for more transparent collaboration between operators, affiliates, lawmakers, and regulators — a theme explored in depth in the full podcast episode below.

The Industry’s Struggle with Public Perception

The gambling industry has an undeniable reputation problem. According to Prof. Dr. Ditsche, this stigma even extends to those who work in the industry — and the players themselves. Oftentimes, they’re considered to be lacking ethics or morals. In his opinion, that is highly inappropriate.

These perceptions stem from years of negative, fear-based narratives. All this has led to player isolation and stigmatization. According to a recent GambleAware report for the UK, stigma remains the number one reason people don’t seek help with their gambling addictions.

Overregulation of the industry and attempts to make the legal sector less appealing have had detrimental effects. According to Prof. Dr. Ditsche, affiliates, operators, regulators, and lawmakers should collaborate to create a responsible environment rooted in transparency and trust.

Ethical Challenges in the iGaming Industry

An essential aspect discussed in the Data Roll podcast is the ethical challenges faced by different stakeholders in the industry. We’ve briefly mentioned and explained them below:

• Affiliates – Based on his personal experience as a CEO of an iGaming affiliate, Prof. Dr. Ditsche believes there’s a revenue vs. responsibility dilemma. Promoting only licensed operators may lead to less profit. But it protects players and contributes toward a legal gambling environment.
• Operators – Legal operators should focus on building trust. They have to be transparent and reliable, especially when winnings have to be paid out. This is one of players’ main fears on the black market. Licensed platforms could leverage this to their advantage.
• Lawmakers and regulators – Their main challenge is balancing regulation and market attractiveness. Overregulation in countries like Germany and the Netherlands has driven many players to look for better deals on the black market.

How Gambling Perceptions Vary by Country: Germany vs. Spain

Based on research covering a quarter of a million keyword searches across markets worldwide, iGaming’s CEO builds a sharp contrast between Germany and Spain. In the former, gambling is largely portrayed negatively. While in Spain, more than 80% of adults embrace it as mainstream entertainment.

According to the results from this research, in Germany, only 23% of searches include legal keywords. A staggering 46% of slot searches feature the word “casino”, which is forbidden in the country. Moreover, about 30% of keyword searches are for illegal sites with phrases like “without limits” and “without registration”.

The juxtaposition of gambling perceptions in Spain is reflected in search behaviour. A recent experiment on one of our Spanish domains with a simple focus on the keywords “legal”, “official”, and “regulated” has made the traffic skyrocket. This indicates that players prefer and actively search for licensed operators.

Using Data and Transparency to Support Responsible Gambling

Tracking potential red flags, such as chasing losses, increasing bet sizes, and gambling frequency spikes, could help with timely interventions. On the Data Roll podcast, Prof. Dr. Ditsche shares the positive example of a government-run Norwegian operator’s outreach program.

The program, including physical letters and calls to at-risk players, yielded between 30% and 50% engagement. Our CEO concludes that by talking more openly about gambling, everyone wins. The less shady the industry is perceived, the better it can be regulated, and the better people can be protected.

Key Takeaways

• Ethics is the foundation of a sustainable iGaming industry. It should be prioritized by lawmakers, regulators, operators, and affiliates.
• The gambling industry needs to address its reputation problem, which has been shaped through years of negative narratives and fearmongering.
• Every stakeholder in the iGaming industry should be aware of the ethical challenges it faces. They should work towards their timely and appropriate resolution.
• Significant differences exist in how gambling is perceived across countries and cultures worldwide.
• Using real data about player behaviors could help greatly to prevent gambling addictions.

Listen to the Full Episode

If you want to learn more about the ethical code of iGaming, listen to the full episode on Spotify. We remain committed to player safety through open dialogue and transparency.

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