Online Gaming Association Proposes Regulations for VIP Schemes
The Responsible Online Gaming Association (ROGA), representing 90% of the U.S. legal sports betting industry by handle, has unveiled a set of guidelines for online gaming VIP programs with an emphasis on promoting responsible gaming practices.
On Thursday, ROGA released the evidence-based recommended practices, designed to support its members' VIP policies and encourage players to maintain a gaming experience within their personal limits.
In a statement, ROGA Executive Director Dr. Jennifer Shatley highlighted the importance of VIP programs in the entertainment industry and stressed the need for these programs to be operated with a strong commitment to responsible gaming. She noted that by incorporating responsible gaming practices, VIP programs can foster long-term loyalty and player well-being.
The guidelines for VIP programs focus on three key areas: proactive education, personalized engagement, and periodic program evaluation. ROGA has identified several recommended practices for each of these areas, many of which have been implemented by operators:
- Role-specific training for VIP hosts
- Implementing automated player reviews for detecting potentially risky behavior
- Establishing an escalation process for identified problematic play
- Integrating responsible gaming messaging into VIP communications
- Adhering to VIP engagement protocols promoting transparency, support, and responsible gaming
- Restricting promotions, bonuses, and incentives for players on cool-off periods, self-exclusion, or suspended or banned accounts
- Enabling players to access their activity data
- Ensuring players are aware of available resources and tools for responsible gaming
- Providing regular responsible gaming education to VIP players
- Conducting annual reviews of VIP programs
ROGA underscores the need for operators to remain aware of new tools and methods for promoting responsible gaming, pledging to continue identifying and publishing research-based recommendations across various priority topics.
Member support will drive ROGA's efforts to further develop and publish guidelines for responsible gaming practices, ensuring that the U.S. sports betting industry fosters a safe and enjoyable gaming environment.
In line with the emphasis on promoting responsible gaming practices, ROGA's VIP program guidelines include proactive education, personalized engagement, and periodic program evaluation, such as role-specific training for VIP hosts and integrating responsible gaming messaging into VIP communications. To encourage long-term loyalty and player well-being, ROGA emphasizes the importance of VIP programs operating with a strong commitment to responsible gambling trends, as well as providing players with tools for responsible gambling and conducting regular responsible gambling education.
