Gamvisory launches ethical rating system for online gambling operators
Ethibet will aim to function as ombudsman-style service when dealing with customer complaints
A new independent ranking system has launched to measure online gambling operators on a range of ethical criterion.
Launched as Ethibet by gambling-related harm campaign group Gamvisory, the system aims to provide punters with knowledge of which operators may act in an unethical manner when dealing with customer complaints.
The five-star ratings system comprises platinum, gold, silver, bronze and zero-rated VIP rankings.
The stars are generated based on four categories: subject access requests, legacy denial, data misuse and fairness and grey-market exposure.
An operator’s overall VIP status will be based on their collective scores for all four categories combined.
The service is the brainchild of former problem gambler and Gamvisory founder Alex Macey.
The campaign group provides advocacy and support to businesses through an employer assist scheme and a healthcare assist scheme. Macey also founded the NoBet364 campaign, which encouraged gambling operators to switch off their gambling sites on Christmas Day 2019.
Speaking to EGR about the development of Ethibet, Macey highlighted the need for an impartial mechanism to take the onus away from operators in respect of customer complaints.
“I got fed up of just hitting a brick wall with these operators,” said Macey. “There have been clear failings identified but it’s the fact they claim they’ve done nothing wrong and effectively say our word is final.
“That has a profound effect on the punters looking to get through their recovery, so I wanted to develop a way of giving those consumers an avenue for redress, a way of putting the evidence of these firms’ record out there.
“There have been a couple of companies who have been genuinely decent and who have done the right thing and indeed there have been some who have dealt with their legacies effectively.
“Those companies which do the right thing and engage with us and play by the rules will go to the top of the VIP list and its in their interest to get a positive ranking by engaging,” Macey added.
All operators start off as platinum and will either maintain rank or be demoted based on customer dispute data.
At present, Genting Casinos, Videoslots and 888 are platinum ranked, while bet365 has earned gold status.
Kindred Group, LeoVegas and All British Casino are currently rated bronze under the Ethibet criteria.
EGR understands Paddy Power Betfair and Jumpman Gaming have become the first two operators to be zero-rated by the Ethibet service.
Eventually, only platinum and gold-rated operators will be able to engage with the Ethibet service in the event of a dispute.
Firms will be added to the rankings system as and when complaints are publicised by punters.
Betfred was this week forced to pay one punter £2m by the High Court in a high-profile customer dispute.