Rank Group who own Grosvenor Casino and Mecca Bingo are the to be the first operators to trial Experian’s new affordability check tool which was devised for gaming sites. It is hoped that Open banking service will be rolled out in the next couple of weeks. This will help players and operators to work out what is affordable and within their means. Experian is already in talks with several operators who are interested in adding the service to their sites. 
A way forward
This new service will allow the gaming companies access to the financial data of customers who decide to opt in to the service, this will show them the income and expenditure and the amount of money they are spending on other gambling sites. The operators can then work with the customers to set limits and rules so that they will only spend within their means. “Rank Group welcomes this initiative,” said the operator’s director of customer diligence Rory Howard. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for gaming organisations to work collaboratively with an organisation such as Experian which is licensed to use Open Banking. “The automated exchange of data in association with advanced analytics will enable us to help our customers gamble within their means.” Tom Blacksell, managing director of B2B at Experian, said: “Innovative Open Banking services can help the gaming industry to protect its customers from problem gambling. People who choose to share data can prove they are gambling at a level they can afford, while gaming companies can meet their responsibilities to keep customers safe. “Experian is already in discussions with a handful of the biggest gaming companies in the UK, who can see the importance of this affordability check. It is one of many new services we are working on to bring the benefits of data sharing to businesses and their customers.”