From all the staff at Focal Research we wish you, your family and colleagues a safe and happy holiday and best wishes for 2021. 

Read on to learn about new developments and current projects by Focal Research and the ALeRT BETTOR Protection System in our first edition of the Focal Points Newsletter.

• Electronic Roulette and Slots Monitoring
• Single Sign-On
• Player Risk History
• Website Updates
• Table Games Model for 2021 Release
• ALeRT BETTOR Customer Care – Staff Training
• Affordability Models
• Focal Crisis Management

Coming Jan 2021 – Report: Adapting Operator Models for COVID-19

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New Developments

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Casino Operators are now using ALeRT BETTOR Protection to Monitor Play Patterns for Slots and Electronic Roulette Customers in the UK 

In March 2020 risk detection algorithms for Electronic Roulette (ER) were added to ALeRT for participating UK Casino operators. The new model layer extended coverage of the ALeRT BETTOR Protection System to 100% of their customers wagering on gambling machines on the casino floor. By reaching out to players engaging in risky play decisions for slots and ER, operators can undertake action to prevent problems from developing and to help those who may need additional assistance to manage their play. 

Single Sign-On Available for Operators Using Azure Active Directory

ALeRT now supports Single Sign-On (SSO) for Azure Active Directory (AD) customers. Operators can use their existing identity and access management service for user access to ALeRT resources. Single Sign-On is compatible with ALeRT for any Azure AD user worldwide with coverage for other identity providers such as Okta underway. 

Player Risk History for ALeRT Users

Previously, ALeRT BETTOR Protection users could only download the GOI list for high-risk ‘Gamblers of Interest’. Users can now access a complete list of all player risk identification history from the ALeRT dashboard. Risk History lists are also available for download in CSV and XLS for offline use and for import to other systems. An API has been developed for integrating player risk profiles with other management systems.

Website Updates

New resources and materials have been added to the ALeRT website.

• Dashboard Essentials Training is online with accompanying print materials.
• The Managers Dashboard Guide can be accessed digitally or in print to help with site navigation. 
• Transcripts for the ALeRT BETTOR Customer Care Course are now available in the members portal.

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Current Projects

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Table Games Model Under Development for NEW Release

ALeRT is expanding customer safety surveillance by developing algorithms to detect high-risk gambling patterns among those wagering on table games. On September 15, 2020, in cooperation with participating UK casinos, Focal started conducting player risk surveys with eligible casino members. Focal will use this information with player data to build sophisticated custom models that will be added to each operator’s ALeRT BETTOR Protection System in early 2021.

ALeRT BETTOR Customer Care – Staff Training

Currently Focal offers users a companion program, ALeRT BETTOR Customer Care, to help prepare staff in delivering effective interactions on-the-floor. The program is completed online as a set of tutorials and is available through the ALeRT web-portal or can be migrated to an operator’s own learning management system (LMS). ALeRT BETTOR Customer Care is under expansion to also support operators in reducing risk and harm among online and digital customers, an increasingly important segment post COVID-19.

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Research

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Affordability Models

Regulators recognize that some gamblers spend more than they can afford, and when this becomes a habit it can lead to negative outcomes. Focal has developed algorithms that can identify those spending beyond affordable limits based on their play behaviours. It is important to identify these specific problem gamblers as their overspending is most likely to lead to financial impacts for them and their families and, in some extreme cases for the wider community making the new model a valuable addition to an operator’s affordability check-list.

Focal Crisis Management

For prevention purposes, new indicators are under development to identify signs of binge play or crisis gambling. This will let operators quickly meet compliance requirements for monitoring and tracking critical behaviours that may lead to problems in the future.

More information on Affordability Models and implementing Crisis Management Indicators will be coming soon.

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Focal Research Consultants Ltd.
7071 Bayers Road, Suite 309
Halifax, NS B3L 2C2
Canada

Tel: +1 902 454 8856
Email: focal@focalresearch.com