It’s not every day you hear about a gambling operator discussing revenue as “harmful,” but Kindred Group, owner of Unibet, which offers a Pennsylvania online casino, is doing just that.
Kindred’s harmful gambling revenue report focuses on the percentage of its revenue from players who exhibit high-risk behaviors when gambling. In Q3 2023, that number was 3.3%.
Of course, this statistic is only valuable if paired with responsible gambling (RG) actions to bring this number down. During Q3, Kindred took matters into its own hands in two major ways. It
- Continually rolled out new automated interventions and
- Implemented enhanced features in the safer gambling toolkit across its worldwide brands.
What determines if something is ‘harmful gambling’ for Kindred?
Kindred’s harmful gambling metric is a massive step in promoting responsible gambling in Pennsylvania. Identifying and intervening with at-risk gamblers embodies an active effort that goes above and beyond the industry standard.
Online casinos provide a safe and secure entertainment source for most players. However, they can also enable at-risk gamblers to engage in potentially destructive behaviors without having checks and balances.
By recognizing at-risk behaviors and intervening with those gambling irresponsibly, Kindred can continue developing strategies that decrease those behaviors and lower its harmful revenue percentage.
The Q3 trend is consistent with data throughout the last four quarters, where 3.3% of the company’s gross winnings revenue has come from high-risk players.
- Q4 2022: 3.5%
- Q1 2023: 3.3%
- Q2 2023: 3.1%
- Q3 2023: 3.3%
Kindred understands the need to take a long-term approach across all markets to ensure the industry’s sustainability and plans to take additional steps to improve these metrics. In the company’s eyes, the solutions include increased levels of intervention for its high-risk clientele.
That belief comes from a positive trend in its intervention efforts. In the last four quarters, Kindred customers have steadily improved their gambling behavior after interventional activity.
- Q4 2022: 82.1%
- Q1 2023: 83.0%
- Q2 2023: 86.4%
- Q3 2023: 86.7%
The ‘journey towards zero’
In the greater picture, Kindred is committed to providing products that positively impact the markets it serves. RG is at the forefront of that commitment.
The company reports its harmful gambling revenue each quarter to provide transparency and bring the dark stigmas to light surrounding problem gambling. Only then can we find actionable and practical solutions to change at-risk gamblers’ behaviors and create a safe, responsible gambling environment.
Kindred’s ultimate goal is to reduce its harmful gambling revenue to zero. And while that metric would be amazing to attain, any improvement in that direction will, more importantly, result in fewer gamblers experiencing the detrimental effects of problem gambling.
While Kindred may be the first to publish a metric related to its at-risk gamblers, it’s not the only operator increasing its efforts in promoting RG. Others, such as FanDuel and BetMGM, have taken actions such as donating to problem gambling resources and sponsoring in-game RG signage at NFL venues, including the Steelers’ Acrisure Stadium.
Pennsylvania is a leader in responsible gambling realm
Earlier this year, the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) cited Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Connecticut as having the best responsible online gambling standards in the US. This is excellent news for anyone looking to take advantage of problem gambling resources for themselves or a loved one.
Gambling problems severely affect 1-2% of the population and another 2-4% moderately. People who fall into these categories exhibit tangible behaviors correlating with having a gambling problem. Behaviors include, but are not limited to:
- Being preoccupied with gambling, chasing losses, lying to the extent of one’s gambling or trying to unsuccessfully control, cut back or stop gambling.
- Being secretive about gambling and defensive when confronted, increasing bet amounts for excitement purposes or gambling to escape problems.
- Committing crimes to finance gambling endeavors, jeopardizing or losing relationships, jobs, etc. because of gambling.
For anyone interested in learning more, visit any of the following resources. More than a handful of groups are available to help and work directly with RG efforts to address problem gambling in Pennsylvania.
- Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania website
Helpline: 1-800-848-1880 - National Council on Problem Gambling website for Pennsylvania
- Gamblers Anonymous website
- Gam-Anon website
- PGCB Self-Exclusion Program website
- Pennsylvania’s Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs
- Responsible Play Pennsylvania website
- PGCB Helpline: 1-800-GAMBLER
Additional help exists from the Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania (CCGP), a nonprofit organization affiliated with NCPG. CCGP provides support and clinical training, offers workshops and seminars, and manages the 24/7, free and confidential Problem Gambling Helpline in PA (1-800-GAMBLER).
