Entain reports 98% surge in player protection tool usage in latest ESG report

Global sports betting and gaming group Entain reported a 98% increase in the usage of its Advanced Responsibility and Care (ARC) player protection tool in 2023, according to its latest Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) report.

The ARC tool, designed to promote safer gambling, was rolled out across 27 online jurisdictions and in retail shops in the UK and Ireland. During the year, 742,112 customers used ARC, which utilizes artificial intelligence to assess risk and recommend interventions. The tool facilitated 8.7 million interventions, with 98% of high-risk players and 65% of medium-risk players setting at least one control feature.

In alignment with its commitment to responsible gambling, Entain also donated £18.7 million ($24.15 million), or 1% of its gross gaming yield in the UK, to research, education, and treatment for problem gambling. This donation meets the UK Betting and Gaming Council's pledge to increase annual contributions to 1% of GGY by 2023.

Cybersecurity remained a top priority for Entain during the period, ranking as the fourth biggest sustainability concern. The company introduced new security measures, including multi-factor authentication and AI-based systems to detect and block malicious activity. The average time to fix cybersecurity vulnerabilities decreased by 65% compared to 2022, with 3.2% of the firm's technology budget allocated to cybersecurity.

As of December 2023, Entain reported that 100% of its revenues were derived from regulated markets. The company holds licenses in 34 jurisdictions and plans to obtain licenses in six additional territories, including Austria, Brazil, Chile, Finland, Mexico, and Peru, within the next two years.

Entain has also set ambitious environmental targets, aiming to reach net zero by 2035. The company plans to reduce Scope 1, Scope 2, and material Scope 3 emissions by 90% compared to 2020 levels. However, in 2023, Scope 1 emissions rose by 20% and Scope 2 emissions by 10.6% due to acquisitions.

“To make sure we are focused on the right issues, we refreshed our materiality assessment, aligning with the principle of double materiality,” Virginia McDowell, chair of Entain’s sustainability and compliance committee, said.

“This helped us understand our unique sustainability-related risks and opportunities and our impacts on society and the environment, gathering input from over 250 internal and external stakeholders.”