Statutory defaults, binding registers and hard guardrails on advertising and product design.
Responsible gambling · cross-market
The Responsible Gambling Observatory
A six-dimension fingerprint of every iGaming rulebook we index. Self-exclusion. Player limits. Customer interaction. Advertising. Game-design protections. Overall RG intensity. Scored from the standards themselves, then layered with citation-backed facts so you can actually compare markets instead of reading ten different acts in parallel.
- 19markets
- 453RG-tagged standards
- 12with curated facts
- 6dimensions
Three postures, twelve markets
Averaged across all six dimensions, today's online-gambling rulebooks fall into three loose bands. Movement between bands is slow but real — Germany's 2021 Treaty and Spain's 2020 Royal Decree both nudged those markets upward; North American frameworks cluster lower because RG is largely delegated to operator programmes.
Strong RG obligations with meaningful operator discretion on defaults and product rails.
RG is required but parameters are largely delegated to the operator's own programme.
Market fingerprints
Each radar spans the six dimensions in order. Larger area = more prescriptive RG regime. Click two cards to overlay them; the comparison opens in a drawer.
Select two markets to compare
AGCO
Ontario, Canada
- Self-exclusion 80
- Player limits 60
- Customer interaction 100
- Advertising guardrails 80
- Game-design protections 70
- RG intensity 63
AGLC
Alberta, Canada
- Self-exclusion 100
- Player limits 75
- Customer interaction 75
- Advertising guardrails 45
- Game-design protections 45
- RG intensity 37
Coljuegos
Colombia (LATAM)
- Self-exclusion 100
- Player limits 100
- Customer interaction 100
- Advertising guardrails 80
- Game-design protections 55
- RG intensity 91
DGA
Denmark (EU)
- Self-exclusion 100
- Player limits 60
- Customer interaction 100
- Advertising guardrails 80
- Game-design protections 20
- RG intensity 100
DGOJ
Spain (EU)
- Self-exclusion 100
- Player limits 100
- Customer interaction 90
- Advertising guardrails 100
- Game-design protections 25
- RG intensity 100
DIA
New Zealand (Oceania)
- Self-exclusion 80
- Player limits 55
- Customer interaction 60
- Advertising guardrails 25
- Game-design protections 25
- RG intensity 63
GCB
Curaçao (Caribbean)
- Self-exclusion 90
- Player limits 75
- Customer interaction 75
- Advertising guardrails 60
- Game-design protections 25
- RG intensity 74
GGL
Germany (EU)
- Self-exclusion 100
- Player limits 90
- Customer interaction 100
- Advertising guardrails 100
- Game-design protections 65
- RG intensity 100
MGA
Malta (EU)
- Self-exclusion 100
- Player limits 75
- Customer interaction 60
- Advertising guardrails 55
- Game-design protections 0
- RG intensity 100
MGCB
Michigan, USA
- Self-exclusion 100
- Player limits 75
- Customer interaction 45
- Advertising guardrails 80
- Game-design protections 0
- RG intensity 100
MINCETUR
Peru (LATAM)
- Self-exclusion 100
- Player limits 75
- Customer interaction 100
- Advertising guardrails 80
- Game-design protections 25
- RG intensity 66
NJ DGE
New Jersey, USA
- Self-exclusion 90
- Player limits 70
- Customer interaction 75
- Advertising guardrails 45
- Game-design protections 20
- RG intensity 87
OCCC
Ohio, USA
- Self-exclusion 45
- Player limits 45
- Customer interaction 75
- Advertising guardrails 80
- Game-design protections 0
- RG intensity 100
PA PGCB
Pennsylvania, USA
- Self-exclusion 100
- Player limits 75
- Customer interaction 75
- Advertising guardrails 60
- Game-design protections 10
- RG intensity 100
PAGCOR
Philippines (Asia)
- Self-exclusion 100
- Player limits 100
- Customer interaction 100
- Advertising guardrails 100
- Game-design protections 35
- RG intensity 71
SEGOB
Mexico (LATAM)
- Self-exclusion 100
- Player limits 100
- Customer interaction 100
- Advertising guardrails 100
- Game-design protections 0
- RG intensity 55
SGA
Sweden (EU)
- Self-exclusion 100
- Player limits 100
- Customer interaction 100
- Advertising guardrails 80
- Game-design protections 100
- RG intensity 100
SPA/MF
Brazil (LATAM)
- Self-exclusion 100
- Player limits 100
- Customer interaction 100
- Advertising guardrails 80
- Game-design protections 70
- RG intensity 100
UKGC
United Kingdom
- Self-exclusion 100
- Player limits 85
- Customer interaction 90
- Advertising guardrails 60
- Game-design protections 70
- RG intensity 100
Cross-market parameters
The single-number answers operators and researchers actually ask. Blanks mean the market isn't yet editorially annotated — the fingerprint above is still auto-derived from the rulebook.
| Market | Register | Statutory deposit defaults | Customer interaction | Ad guardrails | Game design |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AGCO Ontario, Canada | Self-Exclusion (Registrar's Standards) · ≥6 mo Registrar's Standards 2.14 (voluntary self-exclusion); 2.13 (short-term breaks in play) | NoPlayer-set only | Proactive Markers defined · "high-risk player profiles / potentially harmed players" | No welcome bonusNo celebrities · ConnexOntario helpline (registration page RG resources) Registrar's Standards 2.05 (inducement advertising); 2.03 (minors-appeal / celebrity / athlete); 2.09 (ConnexOntario display) | No autoplayMin spin 2.5-second minimum gap between game cycles Registrar's Standards 2.16 (auto-play ban, extended-play prevention); 2.18 (2.5-second minimum gap); 2.19 (no turbo / quick-spin) |
| AGLC Alberta, Canada | AGLC centralized self-exclusion program API gate at registration/login against AGLC centralized system · cross-operator AGLC RG/IG Standards 3.5.1, 3.5.2, 3.5.3 | NoPlayer-set only | Proactive Markers defined · "at-risk player" | Responsible-gambling message in advertising; GameSense link on registration and player-account pages AGLC RG/IG Standards 3.3.6; 4.4.1 | No autoplay AGLC RG/IG Standards 4.10.5; 4.10.9 |
| Coljuegos Colombia (LATAM) | — | — | — | — | — |
| DGA Denmark (EU) | ROFUS Real-time API query on every login and before every deposit · cross-operator dk-rofus-lookup; dk-rofus-registration; dk-rofus-marketing-suppression | NoPlayer-set only | Proactive Markers defined · "vulnerable / distressed players" | No celebritiesNo statutory watershed · ROFUS + StopSpillet + 18+ mark dk-mkt-bonus-caps; dk-mkt-fair-odds; dk-mkt-disclosures | See rulebook dk-scp-games-casino (interruption; misleading-animation ban) |
| DGOJ Spain (EU) | RGIAJ Pre-session query with nightly re-screen of existing accounts · cross-operator L 13/2011 art. 6.2.c; Orden EHA/3080/2011 art. 4 | Yes EUR 600 / daily · EUR 1,500 / weekly · EUR 3,000 / monthly RD 176/2023 art. 5 (defaults) · art. 7 (intensive-player definition) | Proactive Markers defined · "participantes intensivos (intensive player)" | No welcome bonusNo celebrities · 01:00–05:00 only (TV, radio, video-sharing) · Jugar Bien / Juego Seguro seal RD 958/2020 art. 13 (celebrity) · art. 15 (hours) · art. 16 (welcome bonus) · art. 33 (seal) | See rulebook |
| DIA New Zealand (Oceania) | — | — | — | — | — |
| GCB Curaçao (Caribbean) | — | — | — | — | — |
| GGL Germany (EU) | OASIS Pre-transaction query before account creation, login and deposit (rejection within minutes) · cross-operator · ≥3 mo §§ 8, 8a–8d GlüStV 2021 | Yes § 6c GlüStV 2021; TR LUGAS | Proactive Markers defined · "Früherkennung (early-risk recognition)" | No celebrities21:00–06:00 window for TV, radio and mainstream internet advertising of virtual slots, online poker and online casino; separate live-event blackout for sports betting · Helpline signposting and self-assessment tools in a prominent footer element (no specific body named in indexed standards) § 5(1)–(3), (7) GlüStV 2021; § 6 Sozialkonzept | No autoplayStake cap EUR 1 per spin (virtual slots only) · Min spin 5 seconds per spin (virtual slots only) § 22a GlüStV 2021 |
| MGA Malta (EU) | Self-Barring (operator-level) PPD 11; PPD 11(6)–(10); PPD 12–13; PPD 13A; GACD 30(5) | NoPlayer-set only | Proactive Markers defined · "at-risk behaviour / problem gambling" | See rulebook | See rulebook PPD 18A (session alerts / reality check only) |
| MGCB Michigan, USA | RGD Pre-activation query + periodic re-screen (no less than monthly) · cross-operator · ≥12 mo Mich Admin Code R 432.647 (register); R 432.649 (durations) | NoPlayer-set only | — | 1-800-270-7117 MI problem-gambling helpline Mich Admin Code R 432.657 (content); R 432.653 (helpline display) | See rulebook |
| MINCETUR Peru (LATAM) | — | — | — | — | — |
| NJ DGE New Jersey, USA | DGE Self-Exclusion & Mandatory Exclusion list Account-creation screen plus real-time block against the DGE exclusion list. Operators must block, close or suspend accounts of excluded patrons and must refuse wagers from anyone on the list. · cross-operator · ≥60 mo N.J.A.C. 13:69G-1.5 (duty to exclude); 13:69G-1.6 (forfeiture of winnings); 13:69G-1.7 (five-year minimum before removal petition); 13:69O-1.4(j)-(m) (account suspension / cool-off) | NoPlayer-set only | Proactive Markers defined · "problem gambler / at-risk patron" | No celebrities1-800-GAMBLER helpline reference on every log-on and log-off screen, plus on the terms and conditions / patron-protection page. N.J.A.C. 13:69O-1.2(b) (helpline message on log-on/off); 13:69O-1.2(l) (terms & patron protection); 13:69O-1.4(q) (bonus and promotional records) | See rulebook |
| OCCC Ohio, USA | Ohio Voluntary Exclusion Program (VEP) Pre-registration screen of every new patron plus recurring re-screen of the active base; refresh cached copies on the Commission's published cadence · cross-operator · ≥12 mo OAC 3775-12-01; OAC 3772-12-04; OAC 3772-12-02 (enrollment periods) | NoPlayer-set only | — | Problem-gambling message plus qualifying helpline: the 24-hour national helpline, the Ohio state helpline (1-800-589-9966), or an Executive Director approved alternative OAC 3775-16-08(A) (content); OAC 3775-16-08(B) (targeting); OAC 3775-16-08(E) (campus); OAC 3775-16-08(I) (affiliates); OAC 3775-16-09 (free/risk-free) | See rulebook |
| PA PGCB Pennsylvania, USA | Interactive Gaming Self-Exclusion List Real-time check at registration and login; periodic checks during play · cross-operator · ≥12 mo 58 Pa. Code § 809.5 | NoPlayer-set only | Proactive Markers defined | No celebrities1-800-GAMBLER (PA) 58 Pa. Code § 807.2 (content); § 807.3 (bonus terms); § 807.4 (anti-SE / underage); § 809.6 (on-site) | See rulebook |
| PAGCOR Philippines (Asia) | — | — | — | — | — |
| SEGOB Mexico (LATAM) | — | — | — | — | — |
| SGA Sweden (EU) | Spelpaus Real-time query before every staking occasion · cross-operator Gambling Act Ch 14 §§11–12; SIFS 2022:3 Ch 9 §14; SIFS 2026:3 §§1–5 (effective 2026-08-01) | NoPlayer-set only | Proactive Markers defined · "omsorgsplikt (duty of care)" | No welcome bonusNo statutory watershed; moderate-marketing standard · Minimum-age and problem-gambling helpline contact in every ad unit; Spelpaus links on every play page (helpline body not named in indexed standards) Gambling Act Ch 14 §§4, 9; Ch 15 §§1, 3 | No autoplayMin spin 3 seconds per round (from stake confirmation to result display) Gambling Act Ch 14 §§5, 6; SIFS 2022:3 Ch 15 §§2–4; SIFS 2022:3 Ch 9 §12 |
| SPA/MF Brazil (LATAM) | — | — | — | — | — |
| UKGC United Kingdom | GAMSTOP Operators must check GAMSTOP before allowing login or transaction (LCCP SRCP 3.5.3) · cross-operator · ≥6 mo LCCP SRCP 3.5.3 | NoPlayer-set only | Proactive Markers defined · "risk of customers experiencing gambling harms" | See rulebook LCCP SRCP 5.1.6 (CAP/BCAP compliance); SRCP 5.1.11 (direct-marketing consent) | No autoplayMin spin 2.5 seconds per spin (slots); 5 seconds for casino excl. slots / P2P poker RTS 8A; RTS 14D; RTS 14G |
Where each market leads
Top three scorers per dimension, with the cross-market median for context. Ties broken alphabetically.
Self-exclusion
Strength of the binding register that blocks at-risk players.
Player limits
Deposit, loss and session caps — whether statutory defaults exist and how granular.
Customer interaction
How proactively operators must identify and reach out to players showing harm.
Advertising guardrails
How tightly marketing is fenced off from at-risk audiences and aggressive inducements.
Game-design protections
In-product safeguards: reality checks, autoplay, stake caps, spin cadence, loss displays.
RG intensity
How much of the rulebook is dedicated to player protection, as a share of total standards.