Stopping games from becoming more serious.

People have been playing games from time immemorial. Games allow us to test our skills, our performance – and also our luck. They give welcome relief from everyday life and take us to a different world of joyful expectation and entertainment. The vast majority of our guests find enjoyment in this pastime, meeting other people at our physical casinos and associated online casinos. However, there are some people who go beyond their personal limits and hurt themselves and those around them. Although few in number, each one is one too many.

In granting licences to the casinos, the federal government transferred economic rights to us subject to the condition of acting responsibly. We from the Swiss casinos are aware of this privilege and the responsibility it brings. We fully support the legal provisions and the intentions of the legislator. With this in mind, we are committed to implementing effective, long-term player protection.

We protect our guests

The protection of players forms an important basis that has positive long-term impacts. Effective player protection enhances our image and safeguards the success of our business over the long term.

We don’t look the away

Determining when and if gambling problems or addiction are a factor is challenging. However, there are now many options available for identifying at-risk players in good time, particularly in online casinos. Together with leading experts from the fields of addiction research and technology (AI), we develop state-of-the-art methods for the early identification of those at risk. It is important for us to identify at-risk players and to engage in dialogue with them as early as possible, even if this may mean losing them as a customer.

A joint Code creates trust and protects against illegal offerings

Effective and credible player protection also includes transparency regarding our intentions and measures. All casinos in Switzerland have jointly ratified this Code and declared it as binding. It consists of the specific measures listed below.

With this Code, we want to clearly distinguish ourselves from illegal providers – particularly foreign online casinos who operate illegally in Switzerland. These do not provide player protection, circumvent the legal provisions on player protection and do not make insurance contributions to the AHV. Therefore, firm action must be taken against offerings and advertising by illegal providers.

1. We continuously train our employees.

Good player protection is based on long-standing experience and broad expertise. Therefore, we exchange knowledge regularly and systematically within the branch, take part in research programmes and consult experts in the field. We pool this knowledge together and train our employees further so that they can identify at-risk players in good time. Our employees are aware of our philosophy and support it.

Our measures

• Each casino has special employees who have received specific training in player protection and are responsible for ensuring this is taken care of.
• All employees who come in contact with guests are trained, and receive further training on player protection on an annual basis.
• Together with universities, we develop specialist training programmes on player protection.
• We organise regular sessions for sharing experiences and discuss best practices in order to constantly improve player protection.

2. Our early identification measures are effec-tive.

In contrast to illegal providers, the controlled surroundings of the Swiss casinos allow for players to be monitored. Effective early identification methods are of key importance in player protection. They help us to recognise when a player is at risk in good time and to take the necessary measures to protect them. We therefore rely on systematic and, where possible, technology-assisted methods that we constantly develop further.

Our measures

• We invest in the research and development of instruments for improving the early identification of at-risk players.
• Each casino defines criteria for the early identification of those at risk, taking into account the different risks associated with physical and online casinos.
• Our employees are trained to identify critical behaviour patterns in good time and take the necessary measures.
• In online gaming, players are obliged to set a maximum betting limit or loss limit (per day, week or month).

3. We examine every situation carefully.

If early identification measures or other events require the circumstances of players to be examined in more detail, we are legally obliged to intervene in the private sphere of guests and demand access to banking documents, payslips, personal circumstances, etc. This is necessary in order to make the correct decision for the protection of the player, which can go as far as a playing ban. Our motto is to demand as little as possible and as much as necessary.

Our measures

• In order to correctly align the behaviour of a player with their financial means, we require conclusive information. We then make decisions based solely on a careful and plausible analysis.
• We attach the greatest importance to maintaining the privacy of our guests and only demand as much documentation as is necessary. The goal is to make the right decision with as few documents as possible.
• We ensure that the personal and financial data of guests is protected and is only used for legitimate purposes. We have clear guidelines for storing and processing player data according to the applicable data protection law.

4. We prevent those at risk from playing.

A playing ban is the most drastic measure we can take to protect at-risk players. Swiss casinos apply this consistently in order to protect players against the risk of addiction and other negative situations. In doing so, we clearly set ourselves apart from illegal providers who do not ensure player protection.

Our measures

• We ban players if we know or suspect that they:

• • are in debt or are unable to meet their financial obligations,

• • make bets that are disproportionate to their income or wealth, and

• • are suffering from addiction (due to notification from a specialist body or social authority)
• Any individual can also ban themselves from playing at any time.
• We check and ban players if relatives, friends or third parties notify the casino that they are at risk or are playing above their financial means.
• A playing ban at a casino always automatically applies to all other physical and online casinos in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, plus online games operated by Swisslos and Loterie Romande.
• All playing bans are entered into a joint register (veto ban register). Before playing, all casinos check whether a person is allowed to play according to an official ID document.
• A playing ban applies indefinitely and may only be lifted when there is no longer a reason for it. A specialist body recognised on a cantonal level is always involved in the process of lifting a playing ban.

5. We protect young people in particular.

Those under the age of 18 are not allowed to play in physical or online casinos. Young adults aged 18 and over are particularly at risk of playing above their financial means. We therefore have special measures to protect them.

Our measures

• Young people under the age of 18 are checked in physical and online casinos according to their official ID document and prevented from entering.
• Online casinos have particular clarification criteria for pro-tecting young adults over the age of 18.
• We do not aim adverts at young people under the age of 18.

6. We exercise caution when advertising.

Swiss casinos do not run any intrusive or misleading advertising. Examples of misleading advertising include messages that winning is not dependent on chance, can solve financial or personal problems, or can compensate for previous losses. Advertising aimed at minors and banned players is forbidden.

Aggressive advertising originates from illegal foreign online casinos who do not provide player protection. The licensed Swiss online casinos want to clearly set themselves apart from these providers in their advertising.

Our measures

• We do not advertise on TV before 10 p.m.
• Our advertising is not aimed at children and young people. Wherever technically possible, we exclude these groups from our advertising in social media and electronic media.
• Our advertising for online casinos contains a warning (“Play responsibly”).
• In our advertising, we indicate that the advertised company is a licensed Swiss online casino.

7. We analyse the impact of our measures on a regular basis and work closely with specialist bodies.

We keep track of research on addiction and include new findings in our player protection concepts. At the same time, we regularly analyse the effectiveness of our measures and adjust them when needed. We regularly work together with specialist bodies in the field of addiction when training our employees or lifting playing bans.

Our measures

• As an overall branch, we regularly analyse the effectiveness of our player protection concepts and consult experts in the field.
• Each casino works with a specialist body recognised on a cantonal level when lifting playing bans.
• The Swiss Casino Association leads a standing group on player protection, whose members also include external specialists.

8. Our actions are transparent.

Our responsibilities and transparency guidelines also include informing the public openly about the risks of gambling and allowing them to play without risk. To do this, we provide private individuals, experts, authorities, political bodies and the media with comprehensive background information.

Our measures

• On a joint Internet platform, we provide comprehensive information, assistance (tests and application for playing bans) and background knowledge on casino games, player protection and addiction to gambling.
• We provide our guests with a flyer containing information on their visit to the casino and the risks involved in playing.
• At least every five years, we jointly run an information campaign aimed at informing the people about the risks involved in playing and where they can get help.
• We are committed to clear, transparent communication of the gaming rules, plus the odds and payout ratios.

9. Commitment

All Swiss casinos and online casinos have jointly ratified this Code for effective protection against gambling problems and addiction, and have declared it as binding. The Code will be further developed on an ongoing basis.

Mendrisio, 1° April 2025