Pennsylvania Deploys PlayPause Self-Exclusion Tool

A few months ago, we reported on the launch of a new responsible gaming tool, PlayPause, by the non-profit group Conscious Gaming. The GeoComply-powered technology allows gamblers to self-exclude through one single action across multiple jurisdictions.

This week, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) and Conscious Gaming announced the deployment of PlayPause, making Pennsylvania the first jurisdiction to join the program.

Pennsylvania Self-Exclusion Tool Available at No Cost

According to a press release put out by the PGCB, this is the first deployment of PlayPause in the US, and the solution is being made available at no cost to operators and regulators via Conscious Gaming.

As per the press release:

” The system is designed for regulators and licensed gaming operators in one state to securely identify self-excluded patrons who chose to participate in the program with other participating United States licensed gaming operators and regulators.”

Strengthening US Gaming Industry’s Responsible Gaming Programs

The objective of PlayPause is to modernize and strengthen the effectiveness of the gaming industry’s responsible gaming programs.

The Director of the Office of Compulsive and Problem Gaming at the PGCB, Elizabeth Lanza, said that Pennsylvania was pleased to be the first jurisdiction to join the program.

“By integrating with this solution, the industry and regulators can increase wellbeing efforts and advance the effectiveness of self-exclusion,” she said.

Gamblers who sign up for the Pennsylvania self-exclusion program have the option to participate in PlayPause, which assists them by extending self-exclusion to other jurisdictions where PlayPause is also in use.

GeoComply chairman and co-founder Anna Sainsbury added that the non-profit was looking forward to further collaboration with industry stakeholders to expand coverage and maximize this solution’s impact.

As it does in every legal online gambling jurisdiction in the US, GeoComply provides the Pennsylvania authority with a geolocation service that essentially blocks participation in online gambling when the player is not within the state’s borders.

PlayPause will expand the self-protection bubble so that as players move from state to state, that protection can travel with them.  It will also allow players to self-exclude across multiple states.

GVC Holdings is PlayPause’s First Official Partner

Earlier this month, GVC Holdings became the first official partner of PlayPause with plans to launch the feature through its sports betting and online gaming platform, BetMGM.

The adoption of PlayPause is part of GVC’s Sustainability Charter, where the company reiterates its commitment to responsible gambling in the United States and around the globe. 

The charter also outlines GVC’s aim to operate exclusively in regulated markets. The company believes that 100% of its revenue will come from nationally regulated markets by the end of 2023.

GVC also stated its intention to remain a responsible gambling leader, specifically by launching the Advanced Responsibility and Care (ARC) program. ARC uses proprietary technology to enhance player protection through extra checks and improved monitoring and interventions.

Hiring the Big Guns

Conscious Gaming is hoping to impact the US gaming landscape significantly and is hiring some big names to help it achieve this objective.

In early December, Conscious Gaming hired Seth Palansky, the former Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility and Communications at Caesars Entertainment.

Palansky served nearly two decades with Caesars and will leverage his industry experience to help Conscious Gaming and spearhead corporate social responsibility efforts across the country. The philanthropic organization will work with operators, regulators, responsible gaming advocacy groups, and sports leagues to meet their goals.

“This is an incredible opportunity to help rally the gaming and sports industries behind this very important initiative,” said Palansky.“Sports betting and iGaming businesses are spreading rapidly throughout the US, and in order to ensure their longevity, it is imperative that all stakeholders have their responsible gaming initiatives accommodate the modern habits of those users they aim to protect. It’s clear Anna and the team are once again prescient in developing this core technology solution to streamline the administrative burden and eliminate the silos associated with maintaining numerous separate state-operated self-exclusion databases. I’m honored to be chosen to help lead this philanthropic cause to benefit the industries I care so deeply about.”