RGT appoints PwC to enhance gambling-related harm project
The Responsible Gambling Trust (RGT) has moved to strengthen a new project designed to help people avoid gambling-related harm by commissioning PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to independently evaluate the initiative.
The ‘Player Awareness Systems’ (PAS) are being deployed by operators across the UK to provide alerts and appropriate interventions for customers that show any signs of problem play.
Under the agreement, PwC will help will the organisation with both the launch and monitoring of the initiative, which has been developed in response to RGT research that suggests it is possible to distinguish between problem and non-problem behaviour.
PwC will provide services such as understanding systems and controls designed in order to implement PAS, as well as having full access to machine data and the algorithms used to identify problematic behaviour to understand if systems have been implemented as described.
Other roles for PwC will include observing PAS controls operated with Licensed Betting Offices to help understand operations, as well as sharing their observations with the RGT and submitting reports to the organisation for academic peer review.
“We are proud of the work that we do both voluntarily and professionally with charities, social enterprises and the social investment sector around the country,” PwC lead partner Mark Jordan said.
“To ensure the future success of the PAS initiative, it is critical to have an understanding of the different approaches designed and implemented at this early stage.”
Marc Etches, chief executive of the RGT, added: “When the RGT published independent research into machine gambling in December 2014, we hoped to see a positive and a coherent policy response from the gambling industry.
“We look forward to analysing the insights from PwC’s evaluation and encouraging the lessons it highlights to be applied across the industry.”
Related article: RGSB unveils new gambling-related harm strategy