Technology Has Changed Gambling, Experts Say Player Protection Must Evolve Too

Iyke Bede reports on the latest SLEC Africa webinar themed ‘The Influence of Product Evolution on Player Behaviour and Responsible Gaming’, where industry stakeholders, researchers and responsible gaming advocates examined how product design influences engagement patterns, spending habits and gambling-related harm

Over the past two decades, gambling has changed drastically, and much of that transformation can be traced to technology and the role it has played in making gaming products more accessible.

Previously, betting shops and football pools were the go-to options for many punters, albeit in a less regulated market. Today, that story has changed. Games are now right at our fingertips, betting options seem endless, and seamless payment platforms have made participation easier than ever.

From mobile betting and live wagering to gamified experiences and data-driven engagement tools, gambling products today are designed to meet players where they are. But as technology continues to redefine the player experience, it is also prompting important questions about behaviour, risk and player protection.

This trend informed the latest SLEC Africa webinar, titled ‘The Influence of Product Evolution on Player Behaviour and Responsible Gaming’, where industry stakeholders, researchers and responsible gaming advocates examined how product design influences engagement patterns, spending habits and gambling-related harm.

Founder and CEO of Safe Gaming Technologies Ltd, Kayode Lawal, explained that with advances in technology and the availability of mobile devices, friction is reduced, especially through targeted marketing. Describing gambling as a behavioural phenomenon, he explained that tech platforms are designed to keep people engaged so they come back to use the app, even when they aren’t actively placing wagers. Through gamification, most users return to the app for daily rewards.

Assessing this psychological process tied to gambling, Mental Health Specialist, Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital, Dr Abiola Salawu, identified some of the peculiar features of persons with problem gambling, citing increases in the frequency of gambling, financial strains and impulsiveness.

“Gambling rewards on a variable ratio,” Salawu noted, explaining that players’ reasoning helps nudge them deeper, with the hope that the more they play, the higher their chances of winning. At a biological level, he said that because gambling platforms present rewards earlier through bonuses, it encourages people to play, increasing their impulsiveness. This entire process has impacted their brain reward system, citing that younger adults are more vulnerable to falling into the problem gambling net.

According to Salawu, gambling problems have been increasing over the years and are now one of the leading forms of addiction. While systems are gradually being put in place to help solve the scourge of problem gambling, he maintains that relapse persists, often due to three factors: accessibility through mobile tech, affordability and availability of gaming platforms.

CEO of Gamble Alert, Fisayo Oke, noted that gambling-related harm should not be viewed as a fixed characteristic of any particular gambling product. Rather, the level of risk associated with a product can change over time as technology, product design and marketing practices evolve. He argued that discussions around gambling harm often focus too heavily on whether a product is online or land-based, when the more important consideration is the features embedded within the product itself.

Drawing on international research, he noted that certain gambling products have been associated with higher levels of harm in different markets, including online casino products in some jurisdictions and electronic gaming machines in the United Kingdom.

However, he stressed that the common thread is often not the product category itself but the structural features that drive engagement, such as the speed of play, accessibility, the frequency of betting opportunities, and reward mechanisms. As a result, similar patterns of risk can emerge across both digital and physical gambling environments when those characteristics are present, highlighting the need for regulators and operators to focus on product design alongside broader responsible gaming measures.

The discussion ultimately moved beyond product design and player behaviour to the wider systems required to support individuals experiencing gambling-related harm. Panellists explored ways to strengthen self-exclusion programmes, including the possibility of using technology to limit gambling-related advertising exposure for excluded players and maintaining engagement with individuals during exclusion periods through follow-up support and intervention services. They also highlighted the role platforms such as SafePlay and responsible gaming organisations can play in helping vulnerable players access assistance before problems escalate.

The conversation further touched on the need for regulation to keep pace with technological innovation, particularly as product developers and technology providers increasingly shape gambling experiences.

While acknowledging the importance of player protection measures, speakers also stressed the need for a sustainable, well-regulated industry that does not inadvertently push consumers into unregulated markets. Salawu added that gambling-related harm should be approached as a public health issue, calling for greater involvement of medical and mental health professionals in prevention, treatment and long-term recovery efforts.