Betsson takes Socially Responsible Operator 2009 01/12/2009

BETSSON HAS WON THE SOCIALLY Responsible Operator of the Year trophy at the EGR Awards 2009. 

The Swedish operator beat off shortlisted rivals including 888, UK National Lottery operator Camelot, Ladbrokes, PartyGaming and Rupert Murdoch’s SkyBet to scoop the prize, with judges recognising the company’s ‘substance over form; commitment above and beyond duty and detailed execution and commitment.’ 

Collecting the award, Betsson responsible gaming and corporate social responsibility manager Hillevi Stuhrenberg said: “Fair and fun gaming is our core concept and I am very glad that has been recognised“. 

The trophy was presented last night at London’s Old Billingsgate Market at a gala dinner and awards ceremony on the first night of EGR Live, eGaming Review's two-day conference and exhibition for operators.

Betsson was shortlisted for achievements in the last year including pursuing a multi-channel media approach to sending the responsible gaming message that has ranged radio and print notices to presentations at festivals. The operator also awards two annual research scholarships in the area of gambling and problem gambling.  

Also shortlisted for the award were 888, Camelot, PartyGaming and SkyBet.

888, which was specially commended by the judges, was shortlisted for having demonstrated its commitment to social responsibility by launching a new system, The Observer, to flag up problem gambling by detecting players early on who run the risk of being addicted, as well as having redesigned its software and website so as not to appeal to young people.  

Camelot made the shortlist for its strong focus on corporate and social responsibility demonstrated by the development of a worldwide responsible gaming framework through chief executive Dianne Thompson’s co-chairmanship of the World Lottery Association, with close to 140 companies in 75 countries now signed up to the initiative.  

Ladbrokes put itself in the frame by implementing new measures aimed at ensuring the company meets the requirements of the Gambling Commission’s three key licensing objectives – to keep crime out of gambling, to ensure gambling is conducted fairly and openly, and to protect children and the vulnerable from being harmed or exploited by gambling.  

PartyGaming, last year’s Socially Reponsible Award winner, made the list for building on its foundations in this area with initiatives including working with behaviourial analytical experts Featurespace to gain a deeper understanding of transactional behaviour of gaming customer to identify and prevent problem gambling before it occurs - and promises to share its findings with the rest of the industry.  

SkyBet was shortlisted for its having instigating new internal and external training of its customer care staff to spot potential problem gamblers, which is soon to be supported by a knowledge exchange programme with gambling charity GamCare.  

Read the full list of EGR Awards Winners 2009 here.

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Posted: 01/12/2009