An online casino is bearing the brunt of the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) in the United Kingdom after it was found to exploit players’ superstitions.
A complaint submitted to the organization alleged the operator in question, Play Ojo, was using a feature that allowed players to see slots on so-called streaks.
The passage on the Play Ojo website read: “Switch between HOT or COLD to reveal the MOST and LEAST profitable games of the hour, updated every 5 minutes.”
According to the Guardian, ASA is set to uphold the complaint that alleges the promotional material was misleading and irresponsible, which could prove a landmark moment for many online and land-based casinos.
The ASA is yet to decide on its punishment – all eyes from across the industry will be on the severity of the sentence, which could range from a fine to anything up to a suspension of an operating license.
When asked for comment, the Betting & Gaming Council lobby, of which Play Ojo’s operator Skill On Net is a member, said it would not speculate on individual cases.
In comments sent to the Guardian editorial, a representative from Play OJO said: “(we are) in the process of tweaking certain marketing materials to remove these pages from our site, to address specific concerns.”
Why The Ruling Is Significant
The concept of streaks has long been a factor in gambling. The idea that a specific sequence of outcomes can influence the result of the next is scientifically proven to appeal to the gambling instinct but is mathematically unsound. Known as “gambler’s fallacy, it can lead to responsible gambling issues later down the line.
It means online casinos and land-based gambling houses will no longer be able to pursue hot and cold number advertising techniques, such as those seen on the table graphics of online roulette in India.
The ruling could be particularly pertinent to the gambling landscape in India, should a proposed gambling bill in the works adopt the protocols of the ASA.
A recent travel website ranked India as the most superstitious country in the world, and many industry experts are calling for online casinos to refrain from exploiting any cultural beliefs that lead to superstitions.
It may also lead to a curtailing of certain themed casino games in India and worldwide – many popular slots play on the concept of luck and superstition, and we could see a rollback by developers over the coming months.
What Does The New Gambling Bill Propose?
On 1st April 2022, India announced a new bill – titled the Online Gaming (Regulation) Bill, 2022.
Announced as part of the Lok Sabha (House of the People, part of the Parliament), the bill aims to optimize the online gaming habits of today’s Indian players and simplify the stipulation of categorizing between skill and chance.
The bill is not law yet – it still needs to be voted on – and it is expected to go through further iterations to improve and iron out certain deficiencies. Many observers are decrying the lack of consumer protection in KYC (Know Your Customer) or SOI (Source Of Income) protocols. At the same time, the inability to distinguish between casual gaming and real money gaming platforms is also tipped to be a problem on the horizon.
However, the bill indicates a further softening in the stance toward regulated gambling from the Indian government, which is looking to move on from its outdated Public Gambling Act, 1867.
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