A new mobile web app called BetProtect has been launched by father and son duo David and Adam Bradford, which aims to support the industry’s drive for increased player protection and safety.
The app strives to enhance player interaction and provides self-help tools, and safety messages, as well as a ‘time out’ zone for all players who use licenced operators’ gambling products.
The tool, which is powered by Gibraltar-based safer gambling consultancy Crucial Compliance, includes a business intelligence system which aims to enable operators to map and measure common consumer issues and hot topics for support, inform safer gambling strategies and help tailor customer interventions.
David Bradford, who was jailed for fraud in 2014 after amassing thousands of pounds worth of debt through a hidden gambling addiction, explained: “As I never believed I had a gambling problem I never sought help in any form. On reflection I needed intervention from a trusted source.
“My trusted friend was my computer where I submerged myself into the gambling experience. Only on very few occasions did I feel I needed help but for sure on any of those rare moments there was no life raft to guide me and indeed support me – hence I drowned in my delusional world and nobody was listening.
“I only ever sought out my next gambling session. My oasis was the online gambling experience in which my next win would rectify my huge losses. Using my experience and that of others, we have produced an ever attentive tool called BetProtect.
“No other support tool existed back at the height of my gambling and solace was always to play more and more. BetProtect is available now to encourage a pause for thought in the journey and furthermore an invitation to explore the products within such that it would be my best friend without judgement. Nothing was available in my darkest moments until now.”
The product is accessible for web and mobile devices and includes localised content for international territories such as the UK, USA and Europe with local translation available.
The priority message of BetProtect, which has been created in conjunction with specialist therapists, counsellors and those with lived experiences, is to encourage individuals to take a break, consider their behaviour, and engage with a platform away from gambling.
Adam added: “BetProtect is an opportunity for the industry to put its best foot forward in providing additional safety messaging and a safe space for people to take time out at any point in the customer journey in an accessible way.
“We know there is no one silver bullet to completely minimising gambling-related harms but in the suite of tools and offerings the industry presents to its users, we see this software as an effective part of that portfolio.
“We are looking forward to working with operators on implementing the solution for their customers to suit their own customer journeys and responsible gambling tools.”
