The Gauselmann Group has emerged victorious at the 2023 Global Regulatory Awards (organised by Vixio) where it beat a select list of entries to win the ‘Award for Outstanding Contribution to Safer Gambling’.
The Awards ceremony held at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London, is widely regarded as being the Blue Riband compliance event for all sectors of the international gambling industry.
Heralding the Awards which celebrate the achievements of individuals, teams and organisations across the gambling industry who have excelled in compliance, corporate social responsibility and safer gambling, Mike Woolfrey, CEO of Vixio said: “We received a record number of submissions, making this year's awards the most competitive since inception. The quality of nominations demonstrates how the industry views the importance of compliance and the ongoing requirement to maintain compliance excellence.”
The Gauselmann entry highlighted the initiatives that it has introduced to change the culture of compliance throughout the Group to provide safer gambling and protect customers across the world.
The Group operates 277 companies in 33 jurisdictions, supporting over 261 gambling licences, permits and authorisations employing 15,000 people. It is active in all gambling sectors, operating casinos, bingo halls, adult gaming centres, and family entertainment centres throughout Europe. Group companies are involved in the development and operation of online gaming platforms and gaming software, the manufacture of gaming machines, and the provision of sports betting.
The Awards entry confirmed: “The size of the business and the breadth of regulated activities, provided throughout the world, present unique compliance challenges. The Gauselmann Global Compliance Committee is responsible for ensuring all subsidiaries – ranging from a game design studio in Las Vegas to a betting operator in Austria or a gaming machine manufacturer in Germany – operate compliant and safe gambling.
“The compliance culture filters through the entire organisation from the Gauselmann Family Foundation at the head of the group, all the way to staff working in arcades across the world, interacting with customers to ensure that they are gambling safely.”
Reflecting on the Award, Sascha Blodau, General Manager, MERKUR UK said: “Compliance, corporate social responsibility and safer gambling is in the DNA of the Gauselmann Group and the award reflects our commitment to the key principles which drive safer gambling.
“From a UK perspective I believe that we have helped keep safer gambling front and centre stage. MERKUR UK sponsored October’s Bacta Social Responsibility Exchange, our Head of Compliance, Amanda Kiernan sits on Bacta’s Social Responsibility Committee, all of our brands including those that aren’t consumer-facing, have completed the independent G4 Social Responsibility Audit and our 360 Safer Gambling Program is recognised for having set new standards in the low-stake, low prize land-based sector.
“I am extremely proud of the broader global undertakings made by the Gauselmann Group in addition to the tangible activities that we have implemented in the UK. Safer Gambling isn’t about box ticking – it’s about establishing a culture which is understood and embraced by everyone within an organisation.”
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From left: Stefan Bruns (Member of the German board), Louis Beckmann (Chief Compliance Officer Gauselmann Group), Irina Ruf (MD of Merkur Casino) and Jurgen Hobel (Senior Manager Regulatory Compliance Gauselmann Group).