New Global Self-Exclusion Standards: Casino Guru and Academia Partner Up

The online gambling landscape is often a patchwork of varying regulations, particularly regarding player safety. While some countries maintain rigorous exclusion systems, others lack clear structures. Šimon Vincze, Head of Sustainable and Safer Gambling at Casino Guru, and Dr. Margaret Carran from City St George’s University of London, are determined to change this. Together, they introduced the Self-Exclusion Standards Project, aimed at creating a gold standard for self-exclusion programs worldwide. The goal is a blueprint that works not only for Europe but also for emerging markets like Africa, where the project was recently showcased at the 32nd General Assembly of the African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) in Kenya.

This collaboration between a major affiliate platform and a prestigious London university marks a significant milestone in the industry. It aims to translate scientific research directly into operational practice. Speaking in Kenya at an event hosted with the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), Vincze emphasized that players often lose their bearings when they lose control of their gambling habits. This new standard addresses this by ensuring that tools are easily accessible and that the underlying processes for operators are clearly defined. It is an effort to shift the burden of responsibility from the individual to a standardized system.

Numbers and facts

The project is built on an extensive data set. During the consultation phase, a total of 119 contributions were received, with 62 responses validated and used for further development. This response level indicates significant industry interest in harmonization. The project follows a three-stage approach: research, workgroup consultations, and broad public consultation. The importance of the GSEI (Global Self-Exclusion Initiative) is particularly highlighted, having already established partnerships with tools like BetBlocker to remove technical barriers. At events like ICE 2025 in Barcelona, the project continues to gain momentum, with over 1,000 exhibitors from 118 countries providing a platform for expert exchange.

"Creating international standards for safer gambling tools and principles would bring enormous benefits to all stakeholders. The regulators and policy makers would have a reliable, evidence-based and robust source of what offers genuine protection; enforcement would become easier; players would benefit from a consistently high level of protection regardless of where they choose to gamble." - Dr. Margaret Carran, Assistant VP for Education Partnerships, City St George’s University of London

Background

Why is a global standard so crucial? Currently, almost every jurisdiction operates in isolation. A player who excludes themselves in one country can often easily continue playing with an operator licensed elsewhere. The project by Casino Guru and Dr. Carran aims to close these loopholes. Šimon Vincze explained that every aspect of the self-exclusion process was examined to better inform players and equip operators with the right safeguards. The initiative serves as a support system for regulatory bodies looking to improve local consumer protection without having to reinvent the wheel every time.

Why it matters for German players

For German players, the concept of a centralized exclusion system is familiar, as Germany maintains one of the world's strictest systems with OASIS. The Interstate Treaty on Gambling 2021 (GlüStV 2021) mandates that every operator licensed in Germany must be connected to this central database. Anyone who excludes themselves is blocked across all legal offerings. The international efforts by Casino Guru could lead to such systems communicating better in the future or at least adopting similar standards for user-friendliness. However, Germany remains a unique case due to the 1,000 Euro monthly deposit limit and monitoring via LUGAS. A global standard could help maintain protection even if players attempt to use illegal offshore sites, as unified standards increase pressure on unregulated markets.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

Casinos with a license from the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL) already meet many of the requirements proposed by the Self-Exclusion Standards Project. For these operators, the initiative serves primarily as a validation of their strict compliance measures. If global standards align with German practices, it could strengthen the competitive advantage of reputable providers. GGL-licensed casinos are already required to implement the 1 Euro spin limit on slots and clear panic buttons. If the initiative by Vincze and Carran gains traction, it will become increasingly difficult for rogue industry players, such as those from Curacao or other offshore territories, to market their subpar player protection concepts as sufficient. Transparency and science-based methods are becoming the new benchmark for trustworthiness.