PHASE I.
Literature research
Fact-finding activities
Casino Guru data
Terms of Reference
April 2023 - September 2023
Research & fact finding
The first phase aims to create a summary of current research on self-exclusion and an overview of rules for selected jurisdictions, with the outcome being a "Terms of Reference" document for further consultations
PHASE II.
Kickoff meeting Barcelona
In-person & remote meetings
Closing workgroup meeting
Interim set of rules
September 2023 - May 2024
Consultations within the workgroup
The aim of the second phase is to deliver a recommended set of rules for online self-exclusion through consultations within the so-called workgroup, which will consist of various industry stakeholders.
PHASE III.
Requests for consultation
Evaluating feedback
Implementation of remarks
Finalizing the paper
May 2024 - May 2025
Broader consultations with stakeholders
In the final phase, industry stakeholders will be invited to provide critical feedback on the interim self-exclusion rules, which will subsequently be integrated into the final paper offering guidance on self-exclusion.
September 2025
Public release of the final paper
The project will culminate in a series of freely available self-exclusion guidelines for effective implementation.
PHASE I.
April 2023 - September 2023
Research & fact finding
The goal of the first phase is to create a summary of the current research on self-exclusion and make an overview of the rules for selected jurisdictions. The research will be supplemented with unique data on cross-jurisdiction gambling drawn from the Casino Guru database, complemented by an analysis of self-exclusion complaints processed by Casino Guru's Complaint Resolution Center.
The entire phase will be covered within the framework of the City, University of London, with Associate Professor Margaret Carran being the leader of all three phases. The outcome of the first phase will be the so-called "Terms of Reference", a document that will serve as a source of factual information for further consultations.
The entire phase will be covered within the framework of the City, University of London, with Associate Professor Margaret Carran being the leader of all three phases. The outcome of the first phase will be the so-called "Terms of Reference", a document that will serve as a source of factual information for further consultations.
PHASE II.
September 2023 - May 2024
Consultation within the workgroup
The primary focus of the second phase is the collaboration within the industry and its various stakeholders who are part of the so-called workgroup. On the basis of Terms of Reference, the goal of the workgroup is:
(1) to reach a consensus in as many details of the self-exclusion process as possible (2) to deliver a recommended set of rules for online self-exclusion based on the evidence found in the first phase as well as the lived-in experience and expertise of the professionals involved.
Consultations will take place during a series of physical and virtual meetings, starting in September 2023 at the SBC conference in Barcelona.
(1) to reach a consensus in as many details of the self-exclusion process as possible (2) to deliver a recommended set of rules for online self-exclusion based on the evidence found in the first phase as well as the lived-in experience and expertise of the professionals involved.
Consultations will take place during a series of physical and virtual meetings, starting in September 2023 at the SBC conference in Barcelona.
Margaret Carran
Project's Chair
Associate Professor in Law and Associate Dean City, University of London Dr Margaret Carran is an Associate Professor and Associate Dean (Education) at City, University London who is currently actively researching gambling regulations, protection of minors from gambling related-harm and gambling harmonisation attempts.
She completed her PhD on Children and Gambling: Attitudes, Behaviour, Harm Prevention and Regulatory Responses at Queen Mary, University of London and published her monograph titled Gambling Regulation and Vulnerability with Edward Elgar Publishers. Most recently Margaret undertook two major research projects on behalf of European Gaming and Betting Association on regulation of gambling across European Member States and on how European countries monitor and measure gambling engagement and gambling problem prevalence levels within their jurisdictions. Currently, Margaret is leading a project that aims to devise globally accepted self-exclusion standards.
Associate Professor in Law and Associate Dean City, University of London Dr Margaret Carran is an Associate Professor and Associate Dean (Education) at City, University London who is currently actively researching gambling regulations, protection of minors from gambling related-harm and gambling harmonisation attempts.
She completed her PhD on Children and Gambling: Attitudes, Behaviour, Harm Prevention and Regulatory Responses at Queen Mary, University of London and published her monograph titled Gambling Regulation and Vulnerability with Edward Elgar Publishers. Most recently Margaret undertook two major research projects on behalf of European Gaming and Betting Association on regulation of gambling across European Member States and on how European countries monitor and measure gambling engagement and gambling problem prevalence levels within their jurisdictions. Currently, Margaret is leading a project that aims to devise globally accepted self-exclusion standards.
Maris Catania
Senior Safer Gaming Consultant
SG:Certified
Maris Catania is a gambling industry veteran, with more than fourteen years of game integrity and safer gambling experience. Prior to joining SG:certified as a Senior Safer Gaming Consultant, Maris was Head of Responsible Gaming and Research at Kindred.
At Kindred, Maris led its overall RG strategy, as well as several RG research projects and coordinated university and treatment centre collaborations. She was also instrumental in the concept of behavioural detection system at Kindred known as PS-EDS (Player Safety – Early Detection System) alongside Karim Chikh, who together later formed Integrity Analytics.
Maris is an instrumental player in the SG:certified team. She leads and develops up-to-date and effective content for SG:certified on safer gambling issues. In addition, she supports our clients with their safer gambling needs using the SG:certified platform.
Maris has a Diploma in Gambling Addiction Counselling and Psychology, Msc in Psychology and has a PhD focusing on consumer protection, markers of harm, and responsible gambling, at Nottingham Trent University under the guidance of the leading distinguished Professor Mark Griffiths.
She has also been awarded the Gambling Compliance Most Significant Contribution to Responsible Gambling Research for three consecutive years.
At Kindred, Maris led its overall RG strategy, as well as several RG research projects and coordinated university and treatment centre collaborations. She was also instrumental in the concept of behavioural detection system at Kindred known as PS-EDS (Player Safety – Early Detection System) alongside Karim Chikh, who together later formed Integrity Analytics.
Maris is an instrumental player in the SG:certified team. She leads and develops up-to-date and effective content for SG:certified on safer gambling issues. In addition, she supports our clients with their safer gambling needs using the SG:certified platform.
Maris has a Diploma in Gambling Addiction Counselling and Psychology, Msc in Psychology and has a PhD focusing on consumer protection, markers of harm, and responsible gambling, at Nottingham Trent University under the guidance of the leading distinguished Professor Mark Griffiths.
She has also been awarded the Gambling Compliance Most Significant Contribution to Responsible Gambling Research for three consecutive years.
Tracy Parker
Vice-President, Policy, Standards and Accreditation
Responsible Gambling Council (RGC)
Tracy Parker is the Vice-President, Policy, Standards and Accreditation at RGC where she leads the development and execution of the RG Check accreditation program. Tracy’s career has focused on how to improve and leverage the impact of business on society across multiple industries for nearly 30 years. Most recently, for the past decade, her work has focused on achieving positive outcomes for harm minimization through accreditation and standards in the gambling industry. This work leverages best practice research through a comprehensive assessment of player education, player protection and employee training policies, procedures and impacts to help organizations deliver a safer gambling experience and drive continuous improvement.
Prior to RGC, Tracy held several positions with the Social Responsibility team at Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG) where where she developed and executed strategy related to culture building, player education and responsible gambling policy. Previous positions included Senior Associate, Interpraxis Consulting; Executive Director, Canadian Centre for Ethics and Corporate Policy; and Values Programs Manager, The Body Shop Canada. Tracy holds a Master’s of Business Administration degree with a specialization in Sustainability and Strategy.
Prior to RGC, Tracy held several positions with the Social Responsibility team at Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG) where where she developed and executed strategy related to culture building, player education and responsible gambling policy. Previous positions included Senior Associate, Interpraxis Consulting; Executive Director, Canadian Centre for Ethics and Corporate Policy; and Values Programs Manager, The Body Shop Canada. Tracy holds a Master’s of Business Administration degree with a specialization in Sustainability and Strategy.
James Mpiirwe
Attorney at Law
E.J. Sendegeya and Associates Advocates
James is an Advocate of the High Court of Uganda and a member of the Uganda Law Society and the East Africa Law Society with a long career in gaming, betting, casinos and lotteries spanning over 15 years. He has an ever-growing experience in legal advisory, development of regulatory frame works, institutional establishment, compliance evaluation and monitoring, taxation, responsible gaming and player protection.
While working under the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development of Uganda, James pioneered the revision of the then laws regulating gaming and pool betting and was part of the core team that revised all laws regulating gaming, betting, casino and lotteries in Uganda and resulted in the current Lotteries and Gaming Act, 2016 and all regulations under it.
James participated in the establishment of the current regulatory out fit of Lotteries and Gaming Board Secretariat in Uganda by developing the organizational structure, recruitment of staff, training of recruits and Board members and establishment of the different departments there under.
His efforts as Head of compliance culminated into unprecedented growth in legal compliance in the gaming industry and substantial growth of the gaming tax base and government tax collection from the sector. His passion for player protection and responsible gaming led to the establishment of the Responsible Gaming Department under which he pioneered the National Responsible Gaming Policy of Uganda.
While working under the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development of Uganda, James pioneered the revision of the then laws regulating gaming and pool betting and was part of the core team that revised all laws regulating gaming, betting, casino and lotteries in Uganda and resulted in the current Lotteries and Gaming Act, 2016 and all regulations under it.
James participated in the establishment of the current regulatory out fit of Lotteries and Gaming Board Secretariat in Uganda by developing the organizational structure, recruitment of staff, training of recruits and Board members and establishment of the different departments there under.
His efforts as Head of compliance culminated into unprecedented growth in legal compliance in the gaming industry and substantial growth of the gaming tax base and government tax collection from the sector. His passion for player protection and responsible gaming led to the establishment of the Responsible Gaming Department under which he pioneered the National Responsible Gaming Policy of Uganda.
Matt Smith
Head of External Affairs
BetKnowMore
Matt Smith is Head of External Affairs for UK charity Betknowmore and has lived experience of gambling with 8 years in continuous recovery. Matt is now part of the senior management team building relationships with stakeholders across the space and working across their communications and policy strategy. His working background was in the media industry where he spent over a decade working in management for UK radio station talkSPORT heading up major live sports events.
During the latter part of his time there was when his gambling became problematic. Matt is passionate about the work we do to provide support and training services that prevent and address personal and societal harms caused by gambling.
During the latter part of his time there was when his gambling became problematic. Matt is passionate about the work we do to provide support and training services that prevent and address personal and societal harms caused by gambling.
Paul Dent
Strategic Engagement Lead
Gordon Moody
Strategic Engagement Lead for Gordon Moody and formerly Gambling Therapy, managing remote teams over several European territories which enhanced the skills required to meet complex technological challenges, making use of Cloud-based connectivity not only to improve "Initial Contact" but also the client journey as a whole. Now driving forward the Gordon Moody Global Network in collaboration with Mindway-Ai and Better Change to change the conversation in Responsible Gambling.
Victoria Reed
Founder
Better Change
After spending more than a decade working for Gala Coral Interactive, Betfred and GentingBet, Victoria saw first-hand the devastation caused by gambling addiction and decided she had to act. As a recent alumna of Harvard Business School, she teamed up with her fellow classmate and together, they started, Better Change.
By challenging the status quo and truly partnering with operators to help them raise standards through improved compliance, innovative social responsibility strategies and robust safer gambling tools designed to maximise player protection, she is determined to sustain the industry and deliver clear, sustainable and progressive results for their partners and their players.
By challenging the status quo and truly partnering with operators to help them raise standards through improved compliance, innovative social responsibility strategies and robust safer gambling tools designed to maximise player protection, she is determined to sustain the industry and deliver clear, sustainable and progressive results for their partners and their players.
Chiara Shea
Member of the Public
City Law School
Chiara Shea is a current Bar Vocational Studies student and aspiring barrister at City Law School, hoping to practice in the areas of intellectual property and media law. Before deciding to pursue a legal career, she worked as a writer, researcher and academic in the fields of literature and the arts. She is a graduate of Balliol College, Oxford, and holds a doctorate in modern American poetry and spatial theory from King's College London.
Craig Cornforth
Harm Prevention Manager
Epic Risk Management
Craig started working with EPIC in November 2021, bringing with him over three decades of experience of sales management in the motor trade throughout the North East.
Craig shares his story of a ferocious gambling addiction, which ultimately led to the loss of his home, relationship and job. Following his last bet in October 2017, Craig has shared his ongoing recovery in a number of spaces both in a face to face environment and online. His lived experience with gambling addiction and self-exclusion will contribute to discussions within the workgroup.
Craig shares his story of a ferocious gambling addiction, which ultimately led to the loss of his home, relationship and job. Following his last bet in October 2017, Craig has shared his ongoing recovery in a number of spaces both in a face to face environment and online. His lived experience with gambling addiction and self-exclusion will contribute to discussions within the workgroup.
Šimon Vincze
Head of Sustainable & Safer Gambling
Casino Guru
Šimon is Casino Guru's Head of Sustainable and Safer Gambling. He manages Casino Guru's long-term projects related predominantly to social responsibility and safer gambling, with the goal of making the entire online gambling industry better and safer for everyone.
The vision of safer gambling is reflected in everything Casino Guru does, from creating objective casino reviews to going the extra mile to protect people who gamble online. Šimon oversees these areas and makes sure the team's efforts are always in line with the best practices of sustainable and safer gambling and often reach beyond them.
Šimon is also working on two significant projects: the Casino Guru Academy, which focuses on improving industry knowledge through a series of free educational courses focused on various important areas of gambling, and the Global Self-Exclusion Initiative, whose main aim is to create a global self-exclusion system that will effectively reduce gambling-related harm and create an effective barrier between all self-excluded players and further opportunities to play.
The vision of safer gambling is reflected in everything Casino Guru does, from creating objective casino reviews to going the extra mile to protect people who gamble online. Šimon oversees these areas and makes sure the team's efforts are always in line with the best practices of sustainable and safer gambling and often reach beyond them.
Šimon is also working on two significant projects: the Casino Guru Academy, which focuses on improving industry knowledge through a series of free educational courses focused on various important areas of gambling, and the Global Self-Exclusion Initiative, whose main aim is to create a global self-exclusion system that will effectively reduce gambling-related harm and create an effective barrier between all self-excluded players and further opportunities to play.
PHASE III.
May 2024 - May 2025
Broader consultations with stakeholders
In the final phase, industry stakeholders are invited to provide critical feedback, suggestions, and comments on the interim self-exclusion rules.
Afterwards, the collected feedback will be integrated into the final paper. The resulting set of recommendations and self-exclusion best practices can be used by companies, regulators, and the general public to start discussions and improve self-exclusion processes, as well as overall player safety.
We invite gambling operators, regulators, non-profit organizations, and trade associations, as well as anyone else who wishes to be involved to use the form linked below to submit their valuable feedback.
Afterwards, the collected feedback will be integrated into the final paper. The resulting set of recommendations and self-exclusion best practices can be used by companies, regulators, and the general public to start discussions and improve self-exclusion processes, as well as overall player safety.
We invite gambling operators, regulators, non-profit organizations, and trade associations, as well as anyone else who wishes to be involved to use the form linked below to submit their valuable feedback.
Broader consultation is over. Thanks to every company that contributed!
Final documentation from the project
In the final phase, the Online Self-exclusion Recommended Code of Practice was developed after two years of extensive research and international consultation.
The document sets out evidence-based standards for online self-exclusion and offers a unified approach to reducing gambling-related harm that can be implemented immediately to improve self-exclusion systems and player safety. Regulators and governments can use it to strengthen consumer protection and ensure standardized self-exclusion practices across operators.
Carran, M. (2025). Online Self-Exclusion – Recommended Code of Practice (CLS Working Paper Series 2025/04). London, UK: City Law School
Documentation
Online Self-exclusion Recommended Code of Practice (only code)
Documentation
Online Self-exclusion Recommended Code of Practice (full paper)