Camelot, operator of The National Lottery, has become the first lottery operator and one of the first online gaming operators to achieve Advanced Level 2 of GamCare’s Safer Gambling Standard for its online and retail operations.
GamCare is the UK’s national centre for information, advice and practical help regarding the social impact of gambling. The Safer Gambling Standard is GamCare’s social responsibility quality standard for licensed gaming operators. It aims to increase overall standards of social responsibility practice across the industry, helping to make play safer for all.
The three-month accreditation process involved the completion of a multi-faceted assessment, with GamCare reviewing Camelot’s responsible play policies and processes, its website, visiting National Lottery retailers, and interviewing members of staff across various teams at Camelot.
GamCare also found that the responsible play measures that are in place are well integrated into Camelot’s culture.
The new accreditation forms part of Camelot’s wider Corporate Responsibility strategy, which centres on promoting healthy play with National Lottery games in retail and online. To achieve this, Camelot has developed a range of initiatives and tools to make The National Lottery the safest place to play. For online players, this includes age verification checks carried out by Experian, weekly wallet load limits, daily Instant Win Game play limit, self-exclusion options, default weekly spend limits and the ability to reduce limits instantly. The use of credit cards on its digital platforms is also not permitted. In retail, Camelot carries out mystery shopper visits at its retail partners, with a record 91% pass rate in 2018/19, and trains and educates retailers through its ‘Being a Responsible Retailer’ programme.
Camelot’s Head of Corporate Responsibility, Alison Gardner, said, “Camelot has developed tools and programmes to promote healthy play to all our players, as we continue to make The National Lottery the safest environment to play. Achieving Advanced Level 2 of the GamCare Safer Gambling Standard endorses our work in this area, and is an important part of our overall strategy, as we continue to improve how we support our players, encourage healthy play and prevent underage play.”