Nordic-facing Paf has announced another reduction in its mandatory annual player loss limit and set out plans to shrink this further, with a long-term target of an €8,000 ($9,529) yearly loss for users.
Paf has been regularly cutting its player loss limits since introducing a blanket limit for users in 2018. This progressed in 2022 to set restrictions for certain age groups, with limits having been cut further each year.
The latest reduction will see the maximum annual loss for players set at €15,000. It will apply across all gaming categories and sites operated by Paf. Incidentally, the figure is half the first annual loss limit – €30,000 – set in 2018.
Last year, the limit for players over the age of 25 was set at €16,000. Younger players faced stricter limits, with these set at €6,000 for the 20-24 age group and €1,800 for those ages 18 and 19. The reduced €15,000 rate applies to older players, with seemingly no changes to limits for younger users.
“We are extremely proud that, through concrete measures and long-term investments in responsible gaming, we have now managed to halve the first loss limit that was introduced in 2018,” Paf CEO Christer Fahlstedt said. “It clearly shows that we are serious about our ambition to be a sustainable entertainment company.”
Further reductions coming for Paf users
However, the operator plans to go further with limits. It set a long-term goal for annual loss limit to be €8,000, with this to be gradually introduced over the coming years.
“We have been clear about our ambition to take a strong stance on responsibility as a gaming company and to drive development towards a better gaming market,” Fahlstedt said.
“Unlike many other operators in the industry, we are also prepared to say no to revenue from unsustainable gaming. However, this needs to be done step by step, at a pace that is reasonably sustainable for us as a company operating in a competitive market.”
Paf to cut out ‘high intensity’ customer section
Paf has also pledged to eliminate revenue from what it described as “high intensity” players. These are users who lose between €15,000 and €30,000 from gambling via Paf each year.
During 2024, Paf drew €18.3 million in revenue from this spending group. However, with the lower limit now in place, this will phase out the group.
It would follow a similar path to Paf’s existing higher sending group – with annual losses of more than €30,000 – which was phased out after the limits were first introduced in 2018. This saw revenue from the group drop from €13.7 million in 2017 to zero by 2021.
“Completely removing the segment going forward is a deliberate and important decision. It is a concrete way of showing that we do not want revenue that is not sustainable over time, especially when our purpose is to contribute to long-term societal benefit,” said Daniela Johansson, deputy CEO and chief responsibility officer at Paf.
Paf players also have the option to set their own limits when gambling with the operator. Paf said the mandatory limit functions as a “final safeguard” for its customers. The operator maintains that it was the first international gaming company to introduce mandatory loss limits.
“Gaming limits have a real and measurable effect on gaming behaviour, and they stop a customer before things become seriously problematic,” Fahlstedt said. “At the same time, we cannot ignore the fact that customers can relatively easily continue playing with another operator.
“That is why common national deposit limits are needed, and why gaming with unlicensed operators must be stopped.”
Original article: https://igamingbusiness.com/sustainable-gambling/responsible-gambling/paf-player-loss-limit-latest-reduction/
