Find out about the standards and criteria for land-based venues.
Standards & Criteria for iGaming
The 7 standards and 48 criteria for Internet gambling sites are the benchmarks that guide the accreditation process. The criteria are used to define the standards in greater detail. All standards for iGaming are listed below, along with their associated criteria.
1. Responsible Internet gambling policies
The website and/or corporation demonstrate awareness of Responsible Gambling and creates integrated corporate policies and strategies to actively address it.
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Criteria:
- Policy Commitment to Responsible Gambling: Corporate commitment addresses responsible gambling and problem gambling prevention
- Strategy for Responsible Gambling: The corporation has a strategy with defined goals and a clear plan of action
- Senior Staff Focused on Responsible Gambling: An executive staff member is accountable for policies and programs
- Responsible Gambling Integration: Responsible gambling programs are embedded across all activities of the organization
- Staff Information: There are regular reminders to staff about responsible gambling policies and actions
- Responsible Gambling Tracking: Methods are in place to track levels of understanding and implementation of responsible gambling practices
2. Employee training
Staff understand the importance of RG and are knowledgeable about their role and the company’s expectations of their actions.
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Criteria:
- Reflecting Corporate Policies: Corporate responsible gambling policies are explained to employees along with local (e.g., site-specific) codes of practice, self-ban procedures and regulations
- Understanding Problem Gambling and Key Responsible Gambling Concepts: Staff learn about problem gambling and its impact as well as key responsible gambling information
- Understanding Job Skills and Procedures: Staff are taught skills and procedures required of them for assisting players who may have problems with gambling
- Avoiding Misleading Information: Staff are trained to avoid messages that reinforce misleading or false beliefs
- All Staff Receive Mandatory Training: All staff are trained upon hiring and are retrained regularly
- Staff Training Is Based on Key Adult Education Principles: Objectives are clear and accessible, training accommodates different learning styles, and material is tested or reviewed with staff
- Training Is Evaluated: A formal evaluation process is in place
- Training Is Based on Current Research and Expertise: The training program and/or evaluation is informed by the best available evidence
3. Self-ban
A well-managed and communicated self-ban or timeout program is in place that facilitates access to counselling and other supports.
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Criteria:
- Self-Ban Policy: A comprehensive and publicly available written policy is in place
- Promotion of the Program: The self-ban program is well-promoted
- Registration Process: The process is managed in a timely and respectful way and is available in multiple formats
- Ban Length: The ban length is variable and players have options in their length of ban
- Communication with Players: Banned players do not receive any promotional materials
- Access to Community Resources: Players receive information about where to get help
- Conditions of Ban: Players receive clearly worded information that outlines the conditions of the ban and consequences of breaching
- Enforcement: A strong enforcement process is in place to identify and remove banned players
- Reinstatement: There is a process in place for players to resume play
4. Assisting players who may have problems with gambling
Assistance to players with potential gambling problems is readily available, systematically provided and documented.
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Criteria:
- Assisting Players Policy: Clear policies are in place for assessing and handling situations where players may have a gambling problem
- Responding to Problem Gambling Requests: All customer service agents are knowledgeable about the help resources
- Responding to Crisis/Distress: Clear protocol is in place and staff respond appropriately to a player in crisis/distress
- Responding to a Player Disclosing a Problem: Clear protocol is in place and staff respond appropriately when a player discloses they may have a problem with gambling
- Responding to Third-Party Concerns: Clear protocol is in place and staff respond appropriately to third-party concerns
- Identifying and Responding to High-Risk Behaviour: Site has systems in place to identify players that may be at risk of having or developing problem gambling and staff respond appropriately
- Database and Documentation: Site has a database for recording interactions about gambling problems with players, and a clear protocol is in place for documenting and using the data to assist players
5. Informed decision-making
Site provides substantial and readily available information to enable players to make informed decisions.
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Criteria:
- Information about Gambling: The site provides a variety of information that will assist players in making informed decisions about their gambling
- Personalized Information Provision: Site provides players information on their play (e.g., player feedback)
- Specialized Information Provision: The site has designated player information or support services regarding play management tools
6. Advertising and promotion
Advertising and promotion does not mislead or misrepresent products or target potential vulnerable players.
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Criteria:
- Advertising and Promotions Policy: The company has a clearly articulated policy for advertising that does not mislead, target people with gambling problems or minors
- Screening Process: A responsible gambling screening process is in place for all advertising
- Not Misleading: Advertising does not mislead about outcomes of gambling or misrepresent the odds of winning/losing
- High-Risk Groups or Underage Gamblers: Advertising does not target at-risk groups
- Direct Marketing: Any direct advertising (e.g., mail, email, SMS, MMS) follows responsible gambling practices
7. Game and site features
Site and game design promotes awareness of the passage of time and breaks in play, and does not encourage false beliefs. Money services are provided in a responsible manner and do not encourage excessive spending.
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Criteria:
- Passage of Time: Players have ample opportunities to take note of the passage of time
- Restrictions on Play: Games are designed in such a way to promote breaks in play and to avoid excessive play
- Technology Screening: All new games and technology are reviewed from a Responsible Gambling perspective
- Myths and Misconceptions: Practices and procedures on the site do not reinforce myths and misconceptions
- Account Registration: Players receive information about website’s terms and conditions
- Free Games: Free games do not mislead players
- Underage Gambling: To play the site, players will be verified for age
- Credit: Access to credit is prohibited or restricted
- Money Transfers: Cash transfers and automatic deposits are prohibited or restricted
- Display Credits as Cash: Games display spending as cash
Learn more about the accreditation process.
Learn more about the accreditation process.
Accreditation Process for Venues & SitesGet in touch with RGC
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Learn about RG Check
RG Check is the gold standard in responsible gambling accreditation.