Swift Spinning Slots: A Brewing Controversy
Online Slot Speeds: Paddy Power Creator Sounds Alarm on Potential Addictiveness
Stewart Kenny, the brains behind Paddy Power, is sounding the alarm about the compulsive nature of today's UK online slots, arguing that the breakneck speed of gameplay fuels the addiction.
These online slot games spin way too fast for comfort
Kenny, who stepped down from Flutter Entertainment's board in 2016 amid accusations of negligence towards vulnerable gamblers, maintains that despite the UK government's efforts to cap betting stakes, online slot games are still spinning at an alarming rate.
The former Paddy Power boss, who still indulges in gambling, particularly on dogs and horses, critiques the UK government's handling of online slots. On Monday, BBC reported Kenny expressing concerns about the rapid cycle of "investment to results" in iCasinos, allowing players to "repeat the dose" at a dizzying pace.
The Need for More
Although the UK government has imposed caps on bettor stakes to combat "higher-risk gambling products," Kenny believes these measures are insufficient to prevent the addiction issue. In a recent BBC Radio 4 documentary, he reiterated that the rapid pace of games is what makes them addictive.
He further expressed concern about the sensory aspects of slot machines, noting that their flashy displays and near misses on jackpots contribute to gambling addiction, similar to the fundamental aspects of substance addiction.
An Old Controversy Revisited
Kenny's contentions with his former board over the UK's online betting industry, valued at £15.6bn ($20.2bn) and leading the global market until the US's recent expansion of iCasino-regulated states, date back to 2016. While still on the board, Kenny contended that the internet is inherently addictive, and the introduction of iCasinos had "made the cocktail too strong."
Kenny places the responsibility on legislators and regulatory bodies to ensure gambling remains safe. Despite blaming the betting companies, he maintains that this is a matter for policymakers.
Insights:
- Kenny's concerns about online slots are rooted in their ability to create a sense of addiction, similar to substances like cocaine and heroin, and the swift transition of gamblers from sports betting to casinos via aggressive marketing and incentives.
- Over 45% of online gamblers are either problem or at-risk gamblers, with fast gameplay and high stakes significantly contributing to this statistic.
- The UK government has proposed measures like stake limits to counteract the harm caused by online gambling; however, some in the industry advocate for less stringent "affordability checks" instead. Kenny highlights the necessity for more effective regulation to minimize harm without curtailing the entertainment of ordinary gamblers.
- Stewart Kenny, a key figure in the online betting industry, has raised concerns about the compulsive nature of UK online slots, suggesting that their accelerated gameplay contributes to gambling addiction.
- Despite caps on bettor stakes imposed by the UK government to combat higher-risk gambling products, Kenny argues that these measures are insufficient to prevent addiction, particularly due to the rapid pace of online casino games.
- Kenny believes that the sensory aspects of slot machines, such as flashy displays and near misses on jackpots, can also contribute to gambling addiction, similar to the fundamental aspects of substance addiction.
- The rapid cycle of "investment to results" in iCasinos, as Kenny has pointed out, allows players to "repeat the dose" at an alarming rate, exacerbating the addiction issue.
- Kenny's controversies with his former board over the UK's online betting industry, which leads the global market, date back to 2016 when he argued that the internet and iCasinos had made the situation too addictive.
- There is a growing concern that the introduction of iCasinos had "made the cocktail too strong," with over 45% of online gamblers being either problem or at-risk gamblers.
- Kenny places responsibility on legislators and regulatory bodies to ensure gambling remains safe, emphasizing the need for more effective regulation to minimize harm without compromising the entertainment of ordinary gamblers. However, he also acknowledges that the betting companies themselves may bear some responsibility.
