A newly released study in Slovakia, focusing on illegal gambling, uncovered interesting findings and sounded the alarm about the impact of the black market.
Unlicensed gambling operators do not follow any regulations, lack customer protection
The report, titled "The Black Book of Illegal Gambling," represents the first such study.
The comprehensive report was published by the Institute for Gambling Regulation in Slovakia (IPRHH) and disclosed insights regarding the structure and social impact of illegal gambling in the country.
Moreover, the groundbreaking study focused on tactics and mechanisms used by black market operators to lure customers.
Concerningly, the report acknowledged that illegal gambling operators target vulnerable groups and, at the same time, operate without adhering to any regulations, resulting in tax losses in millions of euros every year.
Dávid Lenčéš, IPRHH's Executive Director, commented on the topic, Casino Guru News learned from a press release.
"These sites ignore every safeguard that licensed operators must follow. There are no limits, no identity checks, and no protection against addiction. And if you lose money, you have no legal recourse," he explained.
Black market operators lure customers with big bonuses, better odds and easier registration
Per The Black Book of Illegal Gambling, not even half of the players, or 42.2%, actively check if a gambling operator has a Slovak license.
Equally as concerning, some 43.2% of the players cannot determine which ads promote licensed operators and which ones are tied to illegal gambling providers.
The newly released study discovered that 23.7% of gamblers, or approximately 296,000 Slovaks, play on unlicensed gambling platforms.
Approximately a quarter, or 24.1% of the players, were unable to determine whether the online gambling websites they use were legal.
Concerningly, some 13.1% of the consumers admitted to using illegal gambling websites because they were registered with RVO, Slovakia's National Register of Excluded Persons.
Exclusion from gambling in Slovakia, similar to other European jurisdictions, prevents gamblers from accessing licensed websites. However, that protection isn't effective against unlicensed gambling operators.
According to the newly released study, some 32.5% of the players were attracted to unlicensed gambling websites because of big bonuses.
On the other hand, 29.5% were attracted because of better odds, while 29.1% recognized it was easier to register with an unlicensed gambling website.
The study highlighted recommendations in the fight against illegal gambling
IPRHH's comprehensive report outlined a range of recommendations that can help in the fight against illegal gambling.
Notably, the Institute recommended the implementation of a multi-pronged strategy against illegal gambling, which included increasing public awareness and "stable conditions" for licensed gambling operators.
Unsurprisingly, IPRHH also recommended effective blocking of illegal gambling websites and better cooperation with payment firms and banks that can restrict transactions with unlicensed gambling operators.
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