Dutch Gambling Authority maps risky gambling behavior

(PRESS RELEASE) -- The Dutch Gaming Authority has used collected (pseudonomerized) player data to map indicators of risky gambling behavior. With the results of the investigation, the supervisor can compare the different licensees in different areas other than only extreme losses.

Gambling problems and excessive gambling are often associated with the loss of high amounts of money. Forfeitures a lot of money can indeed be an indicator of risky gambling behavior, but other indicators also play an important role in detecting problem players, such as playing time or changes in playing behavior (for example, increasingly or at unusual times gambling).

Gambling providers with a license have a mandatory data vault (CDB) in which pseudonymized player and transaction data is stored. The Ksa has analyzed this data to map risky behavior, to look at (the usefulness of) applied interventions by providers and to compare the different providers.

The study looked at several indicators of problematic gambling: intensity (many days gambling, or lost a lot of money), loss of control (number of deposits per day), increase in gambling behavior (more or longer gambling, spending more money), chosen game (for example, sports betting versus fruit) machines and interventions by the provider. The analyses were carried out on the basis of one year of data from the CDB

By comparing or linking different indicators together, the Ksa gained many new, interesting insights. For example, playing at night is generally seen as an important indicator of risky gambling behavior. The dates show that players play casino games more often at night than sports bets. That could mean casino games are more risky than sports betting. At the same time, it can mean that closing sports betting at night is a stronger indicator for risky behavior: this is less common and deviates more from the norm.

The Ksa is now looking at how this research and the findings gained from it can be used by the supervisor to gain more insight into potential problem players and their approach. In addition, we look at how the insights obtained can be used in other ways to improve supervision.