Shares information securely, utilizing no personally identifiable information
Empowering Players to Pause
About PlayPause
Modernizing and Strengthening Responsible Gaming Programs
PlayPause is an innovative tool designed to modernize and strengthen the effectiveness of the U.S. iGaming and online sports betting industry’s responsible gaming programs. It provides an efficient way for operators and regulators to enhance their responsible gaming programs across multiple states. PlayPause is made available through Conscious Gaming, the philanthropic organization started by the founders of GeoComply to leverage advanced technology to better protect consumers and enhance responsible gaming.
PlayPause is an information-sharing tool, centered around self-exclusion and impermissible bettor policies, where all industry stakeholders — players, operators, regulators and sports leagues — contribute encrypted data to a national repository to ensure those that need to take a pause or be precluded from placing wagers, can easily do so.
How it Works
The PlayPause system works differently depending on who is using it. Here is an overview.
State Regulators
- Consumers visit the website of the state regulator in their state of residence. (See map on our homepage)
Consumers choose the parameters of their pause in play (often based on regulatory guidelines), confirm their choices and submit it securely and electronically. - Consumers/states opt in to sharing the information with the PlayPause system.
- PlayPause stores an encrypted token that uses no personally identifiable information.
Any business offering online gaming in the U.S. integrated into PlayPause can now check the PlayPause system in real-time. If a consumer accessing their system is in the PlayPause repository, game play will be prohibited. - Consumers may return to the state regulator website at the end of the pause period to follow steps to be removed from exclusion, and thus, PlayPause. (If consumer chose lifetime self-exclusion, this step is not necessary).
Business Offering Online Gaming
(often referred to as “gaming operators or operators”)
- Consumers can often pause their play directly inside an operator’s website or app. Find the “responsible gaming” section on the site/app and follow the prompts to sign up. (If not available this way, operators will direct you to your state regulator website to sign up that way). (State regulations dictate the protocols for self-exclusion).
- Operators signed up to PlayPause then share that information with the PlayPause system by opting in to sharing that information.
- Other operators and state regulators who are enrolled in PlayPause, now also have real-time access to that information and can check the PlayPause database.
Impermissible Bettors
Defined as any group of people who are forbidden from placing bets due to policy or rules of their employer. Sports Leagues, State Regulators and Operators all have employees who are prohibited from betting due to company policies, and with new partnerships occurring between media companies and broadcasters and gaming companies, new policies may be coming to those businesses too. PlayPause is a solution for these employees. Any employer who has a list of employees they wish to preclude, can sign up for our service to ensure the integrity of their operations.
- Integrate the PlayPause technology into your existing Human Resources database where your company maintains control of their own data.
Initially, a mass upload of employees can be arranged. - From there, individuals may be added or removed as simply as they are added or removed from payroll or other HR functions.
- Tag employees based on restrictions your policies dictate. Can’t bet on golf, but okay to bet other sports? You can customize that. Can’t bet on your betting platform, but okay on others? You can dictate that. Want to preclude all sports betting, but allow poker and casino gaming? Feasible. Need to remove someone from the system, but want it to take effect 6 months after employment ends? No problem.
- Send encrypted token(s) to the PlayPause repository to store.
- Anyone enrolled in PlayPause can now check the repository in real time and know how to properly handle any impermissible bettors who attempt to place bets. If in the PlayPause repository, wagering will be restricted based on information stored on token.
- Removal from the system is handled by the employer, typically as an HR function at same time when removing the employee from payroll, benefits, etc. (Time limits can be placed on PlayPause tokens with expiration dates, in order to handle employees with severance, insider access, consultancies, etc.)
Consumer/Player
- Fill out one form, one time.
- Dictate the terms based on your needs and wishes.
- Protect your identity.
- Know that when the urge to gamble comes, a more robust system is in place to support you.
- Gives you comfort that if you move addresses or states, you will still be protected.
