As a co-founding member of the Belgian Association of Gaming Operators, Gaming1 took part in the annual conference as part of ESG Week (European Safer Gaming Week). Let's take a look back at this event that advocates for responsible gaming in the sector.
BAGO's annual conference, titled Stay Sharp, Play Safe: Protecting Players in the Digital Era, took place on 20 November in Brussels. This event brought together the main actors in the sector, including our CEO and co-founder of BAGO Emmanuel Mewissen and our Deputy CEO Jean-Christophe Choffray, to speak about the challenges linked to protecting players and the development of sustainable and responsible practices.
Gaming1, an actor committed to responsible gaming
At the heart of the discussion with the sector representatives, Jean-Christophe Choffray spoke about highlighting the initiatives put in place by Gaming1 regarding player protection, a subject that has always been at the heart of the group's priorities and strategy. At Gaming1, we always play by the rules and it is with this in mind that the group signed the Duty of Care agreement in 2023 alongside the five other biggest Belgian game of chance operators that make up BAGO. This innovative agreement, based on scientific criteria, defines a strict framework within which each operator commits to developing a prevention policy aiming to identify and escalate potentially problematic gaming behavior.
Jean-Christophe Choffray also underlined the importance of advanced technology, notably the proactive detection tool developed by Gaming1 in partnership with professor Xavier Noël and the Gaming Clinic from the Université Libre de Bruxelles, which enabled the definition of the risk indicators used in the tool's analysis. Powered by artificial intelligence, this tool allows early identification of signs of dependency and quick intervention by integrating a human approach that allows Gaming1's Responsible Gaming teams to contact the players concerned to offer them appropriate support.
The fight against the illegal sector at the heart of the debate
One of the key themes at the conference was the fight against the illegal online gambling sector, which sparked lively discussions. A recent study carried out by Yield Sec showed that 60% of the Belgian online game of chance market is held by illegal providers. A worrying figure, not only for legal operators, but also for players who have no protection. These websites, which operate outside of the regulatory framework, use sophisticated marketing techniques on social media to attract players to their platforms. They mainly target young people, as shown in this marketing video that illegally uses the face of sportsperson Kevin De Bruyne.
Watch video
Although the Belgian Gaming Commission has created a blacklist, these illegal website can still be accessed by any player in just a few clicks, as shown in a video by Jean-Christophe Choffray.
Innovation and collaboration: the keys to a responsible future
The convention concluded with an inspiring speech by Emmanuel Mewissen, our CEO and vice-president of BAGO. He insisted on the importance of having a real discussion between all the competent actors: politics, the regulator, the private sector and specialist addiction organizations. "Cooperation is the only way to efficiently combat the challenges of the illegal market and ensure a safe future for games of chance in Belgium."
In this collaboration, technology remains one of the sector's biggest allies to fight against problematic gaming behavior and guarantee responsible and recreational behavior. Gaming1 will continue to play a central role in this collective effort, by developing responsible and innovative solutions that place player protection at the heart of its priorities.
