Responsible gaming

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR RESPONSIBLE GAMING IN MALAWI

Gaming is an enjoyable form of entertainment. However, for a small number of patrons, gambling / betting can become a serious problem. Problems occur when gambling behaviour has negative consequences for individuals, families and communities. Supapesa Limited (Malawi), trading under the names “Betyanga / Lotto Yanga and Betyanga Online” respectively, is committed to ensuring gambling and gaming activities are carried out in a socially responsible manner.

This Comprehensive Responsible Betting Policy explains its purpose, implementation, and its role in reducing problematic gaming behaviours. The program falls under the Malawian government and is supported by St. John of God Hospitaller Services, which provides mental health and addition services to those in need.

Objectives

  1. Promote Responsible Gaming and Betting: Encourage a balanced approach to gambling, maintaining it as a form of entertainment.
  2. Prevent Problem Gambling: Implement measures to identify individuals at risk of developing gambling-related issues and provide appropriate support.
  3. Ensure Compliance: Follow Malawian legal requirements and international best practices for responsible gambling.

Legal Framework

In accordance with Malawi’s Gaming Act and other relevant gambling laws and regulations, compliance is paramount in ensuring the integrity and fairness of the betting industry.

Key Components

1. Age Verification
– Strictly prohibit gambling by individuals under the age of 18.
– Implement robust age verification processes, to prevent minors from accessing betting services

2. Self-Exclusion Programs
– Provide self-exclusion mechanisms for people who recognise they have a gambling problem.

3. Education and Awareness are the key to curbing harmful activities such as littering, air pollution, and the illegal trade of endangered wildlife species.
– Develop and distribute informational materials on responsible gambling strategies.
– In conjunction with St. John of God Hospitaller Services, the programmes are designed to address the risk factors of gambling addiction and available services, as a way of creating awareness.

4. Staff Training
– Train all employees in practicing responsible gambling and assisting individuals who display signs of problem gambling.
– In partnership with St. John of God Hospitaller Services, offer continuous learning, in order to keep the staff knowledge current on the latest information and methods in addressing gambling addiction, create awareness and offer assistance.

5. Support Services
– Ensure our customers have visible references to gambling help lines and any other applicable support mechanisms
– Set up a unique bridge to St. John Hospitaller Services, to assist individuals with gambling addictions, with the help of the mentioned system.

6. Advertising and Publicity
– Ensure all marketing and promotional material is not targeted towards minors, or vulnerable individuals.
– Include messages promoting responsible gambling and the availability of support services in all advertisements.

7. Discourse and regulation
– Establish betting limitations and program spend limit, to enable responsible gambling behaviours.
– Constant careful monitoring and periodically fine-tuning such limits, based on customer feedback and emerging ways to improve.

8. Monitoring and Evaluation
– Monitor gambling activities regarding signs of problematic gambling practices.
– Constantly measure and evaluate the functionality of responsible gambling regulations, with updates to the policies whenever necessary.
– Joint Initiatives: Engage in joint activities to develop programmes and projects aimed at mental health and responsible gambling campaigns, such as creating an alliance with St. John of God Hospitaller Services.
– Training Programs: Participate in any available seminars or workshops offered by St. John of God Hospitaller Services, to increase staff proficiency and manpower necessary to assist compulsive gambling individuals.
– Research and Development: Through research, the community involvement can be facilitated, and programmes aimed at understanding the effects of gambling addiction and methods of dealing with them can be developed.

RESPONSIBLE GAMBLING TIPS

– Not for persons under the age of 18.
– Gambling should be seen as entertainment and not as a way of making money.
– Gamble only the amount you can afford to lose.
– Do not make gambling your only way of entertainment.
– Do not gamble when under the influence of alcohol or any other substance that could impair your judgment.
– Provide for your family first before you gamble.
– You can always track the amount you spent under your account transaction history. – If you need someone to talk to, feel free to call our customer care number toll free on 3064, or via e-mail on support@betyangaonline.co.mw and our discreet and friendly agents will refer you to a specialist should you feel like the need to contact one.

Parental Control

There are numerous applications that parents or guardians can use to restrict and monitor the use of underage children’s computer access to the internet. Here are some examples: A variety of parental control filtering software is available for parents to block undesired web sites of their choosing, in order to eliminate any temptation for underage access to such websites, such as:

– https://www.cybersitter.com/

Net Nanny filtering software can protect children from unwanted or inappropriate content:
– https://www.netnanny.com/
– https://www.getsafeonline.mw/

Statement of Commitment

Supapesa Limited (Malawi), trading under brand names “Betyanga / Lotto Yanga and Betyanga Online” respectively, pledge to our employees and patrons to make responsible gaming / betting an integral part of our daily operations.

This pledge includes all aspects of our business, from employee assistance and training to efficiently assist customers to responsible advertising and marketing. This code also covers our commitment to support awareness surrounding responsible gaming and eliminate any underage gambling.

The Following code of conduct details how we will fulfil this pledge:

1. Pledge to our employees

  1. We will support educative programs to train employees on responsible Gaming/Betting.
  2. We will implement communication programs for employees to improve understanding of responsible gaming and related policies and procedures.
  3. We will distribute information to new employees describing responsible gaming and where to find assistance. We will post responsible gaming awareness signage at various locations where employees congregate.
2. Pledge to our Patrons
  1. We will make available information detailing responsible gaming and where to find assistance.
  2. We will make information available on web sites describing responsible gaming.
  3. We will make information available to patrons generally explaining the probabilities of winning or losing at the various games offered by the gaming establishment.
  4. We will provide opportunities for patrons to request in writing that they not be sent promotional mailings and for revocation of their privileges for specific gaming services such as player club/card privileges.
  5. We will make all reasonable efforts to honour a written request from any person, to not knowingly grant that person access to gaming activities at one or more of its facilities.
  6. Our company reserves the right to exclude a patron from gaming, without a request from the patron.
3. Pledge to prevent Underage Gaming and Unattended Minors to patron their establishments / activities.
  1. We will make diligent efforts to prevent underage individuals from loitering in the gaming / betting areas.
  2. We will communicate the legal age permitted to gamble through all marketing channels utilised, as well as on signage and / or brochures.
  3. Employees working in relevant areas will receive training in appropriate procedures for dealing with unattended children attempting to engage in underage gambling.
  4. If a child appears to be unsupervised or in violation of local curfew and other laws, security or appropriate personnel will be contacted and remain with the child while reasonable steps are taken to locate the parent or responsible adult on the property, or by telephone. If efforts are unsuccessful, security personnel will contact an appropriate third party, such as the police department or department of youth / social services and release the unattended child to their care.
4. We do not serve alcoholic beverages, and;
  1. We will make diligent efforts not to permit gaming by a visibly intoxicated patron.
  2. We will train company employees to understand the Company’s policies and responsibilities towards alcohol use and / or misuse.
5. To advertise responsibly.
  1. This Code is applicable to marketing and advertising of Gaming / Betting activities. For the purpose of this code, advertising and marketing includes radio and television ads broadcast off the premises, print, direct mail, billboard and internet promotions.
Gaming advertising will:
– Contain a responsible gaming message.
– Reflect generally accepted contemporary standards of good taste.
– Strictly comply with the Malawi Gaming and Lottery Association’s (MAGLA) standards to not make any false or misleading statements.

Gaming advertising will not:
– Contain cartoon figures, symbols, celebrity / entertainer endorsements and / or language designed to specifically appeal to children and minors.
– Feature anyone who is, or appears to be, below the legal age to participate in gaming activity.
– Contain claims or representation that gaming activity will guarantee an individual’s social, financial or personal success.
– Be placed in media where most of the audience is reasonably expected to be below the legal age to participate in gaming activity.
– Imply or suggest any illegal activity of any kind.
– Be placed in media specifically oriented towards children and / or minors. – Be placed at any venue where the majority of the audience is expected to be below the legal age allowed to participate.

6. Pledge to the Public
  1. To support scientific based research on information related to gambling / betting health.
  2. We will use such research information to identify best practices for gaming establishments to follow and promote responsible gambling.
  3. We will continue to develop a dialogue surrounding scientific research on gambling and health, in order to communicate to, and educate patrons, employee and policy makers.
7. Responsible Gaming Features
Deposit, Betting & Losses Limits
  1. Many of our customers use Limits to manage their spending. Limits can be set for 24 hours, 7 days, or 30 days period and cannot be overridden.
  2. You can decrease your Deposit Limits at any time and this will be applied immediately.
  3. Before increasing your Deposit Limits carefully consider if you can afford to do so. Never decide to increase your limit because you have lost money and think that you will win it back by gambling more. If you wish to increase a limit, you will need to wait 24 hours before we action your request and then return to our site to confirm that you still want to increase it.

Review and Updates

– Supa Pesa’s Policies will be reviewed on an annual basis or whenever necessary because of alterations in Malawi’s laws, new knowledge, or introduction of better approaches.
– The stakeholders, namely customers, employees as well as St. John of God Hospitaller’s Services, will be a major focus of these reviews.

Conclusion

Our commitment to responsible gambling is essential in preventing betting from being seen as a harmful activity or major issue. To this end, we ensure compliance with Malawian laws and support all institutions that offer services aimed at creating a responsible betting environment and addressing gambling-related issues and we give support to St. John of God Hospitaller Services that helps in creating a responsible betting environment and addresses issues related to gambling.

This policy is a crucial tool for promoting sustainable gambling practices. It emphasizes the importance of adhering to responsible codes and collaborating with health services, with a focus on both preventive and curative care.

Below is a diagram which customers can use to perform a self-test, should they be concerned they have a gambling problem.

How to use this chart: (example)

1. Score yourself from 1 – 4 on each of the different colour topics / behaviours / emotions in the below chart (where 1 is the least applicable to you, up to the highest score 4, which is the most applicable to you).
2. Add your scores together and see below results:

– 8 – 16 = High risk of developing an addiction
– 16 – 24 = Medium risk of developing an addiction
– 24 – 32 = Low risk of addiction