Why regulation does not raise problem gambling, with Martin Lycka

Martin Lycka, a regulatory affairs veteran with 16 years in the industry, talks to Šimon Vincze in Prague about why he sees regulation as a net benefit for harm reduction, how advertising fits in, and what US and European markets can learn from each other.

In this episode

• Recalling a colleague putting together GVC's responsible gambling strategy, Lycka describes a gradual move from "a hardnosed regulatory lawyer and a lobbyist" to someone convinced of "the absolute need to protect customers" (0:15).

• He is moving to a new job still within the industry, to be revealed later, and says he has always been on the operator side and that will not change (3:42).

• He says regulation "does not increase the rate of problem gambling"; it brings more advertising and more reported scandals, but allows far more granular detection (26:21).

• Regulation also attracts funding for programmes and clinics, he argues, while blanket bans are "a recipe for disaster" that push activity into the black market (28:11).

• He says US First Amendment rules leave more advertising "wiggle room" than in Europe, the US is effectively 50 jurisdictions, and many European states have looked closely at Ontario on consumer protection (35:53).

• His next step in harm reduction is individualised care, such as giving a customer a ring after a spike in their betting (49:44).

Episode from Safer Gambling Talks with Šimon Vincze by Casino Guru News, published on YouTube.