The Data Behind the Gamstop System
GamStop has been in vogue in the UK since 2018. It has covered all the casinos that are licensed under the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), which makes it the most widely used self-exclusion software of the nation. Since it is available as a free application, downloadable on all devices, the usage comes with great economical value for the problem gamblers seeking help.
The main goal of GamStop is to abstain or block a user from all the casinos licensed under the UKGC for a specific interval of time. Of course, players can register at local casinos that aren't with GamStop requirements but it will be their own risk as these operators aren't under UKGC. The blocking procedure involves a large amount of data collection and processing. Since GamStop also blocks transactional history, it makes use of the existing data in the databases. GamStop also collects data as a testimony of the users’ records, and term of service.
To understand the entire workflow of the GamStop system, a user must at first figure out the functionality behind the data collection. This involves separating the types of data of the user, maintaining a reliable third-party system, and regulating the retention of the data system for future purposes.
Types of Data Collection
Perhaps the installation and usage of GamStop is the most simplistic one, as all the information, and customer support are available on the official website. Maybe, because of this reason, the popularity is considerably high among the older generation, who are at loss with the new technologies. All a user requires is to put personal information, which must be the same as the official documentation used in banks, and the player ID input in the casinos. GamStop asks the basic personal information which includes the name, address, date of birth, email address, and phone number.
The entire procedure takes place within seconds, which undergoes a rapid verification process, allowing it to proceed to the next section determining the period of exclusion. The minimum period of self-exclusion, offered by GamStop is six months.
GamStop also collects necessary data from iGaming companies. Users have argued this to be a breach of privacy between the user and the casinos. This procedure is implied as a means of collecting transactional history for preventing any future usage of the most visited casinos.
The intervention of the Third Party system to Administer the Collected Data
A reliable third-party system is extremely necessary, as the data input by the user needs to be verified. Without verification, GamStop does not direct the user to choose their period of exclusion. The Trans Union provider currently acts as the third-party system to keep a check on the authenticity of the data, put by the user. It also traces the user, so that it is only the interested user who registers, and not any other person in its place. For this purpose, GamStop collects all the necessary data, both existing and history to form a database, which is retrieved when it is necessary. The main goal of the third-party system is to match the data so that the data put by the user is completely authentic.
GamStop might also verify data by asking for complete access to the data stored in the iGaming companies. By means of the feature of GamStop API, the input data is collected and processed to block the websites related to gambling.
Retention of the Data System
There might be cases where an interested user fails to complete their registration at the GamStop website, yet they have fulfilled a few necessary criteria. That information is compiled and stored for an entire month. If the user responds and fulfils the remaining criteria, the registration process can be deemed as a successful one.
Although five years is the maximum period of self-exclusion, the data is stored in the form of databases for a period of seven years. Further, it is moved to a new database, which would extract the necessary information, and again store it for seven years. After the complete interval of 14 years, all the data is completely deleted.
Concluding Thoughts
GamStop has succeeded in providing the ambiance of responsible gambling to a great extent. The process of data collection and implementation has proved to be highly effective. But, it has failed to maintain privacy with the user. The storage of personal information might be subject to hacking in extreme situations, which would certify the unethical system to gain the personal information of the user. This, in turn, might be used against the user.