The month of June for a few years now has been solely dedicated to identifying and celebrating the LGBTQ community. It’s extremely sad to note that members within this community are still wrongly ignored or treated differently by their peers, however, the world is evolving and we hope that by continuing to shine a light on the inequality that LGBTQ members face, this will help the process speed up. Industries throughout the month of June are trying their best to send out messages to highlight that they stand hand-in-hand with anyone from this community and want them to know that their company is a safe space where they can freely be themselves. The iGaming industry is no different and has evolved throughout the years to ensure that anyone and everyone feels included within their industry. Keep reading to find out about the inclusivity of online gaming and casinos and how this has positively impacted the LGBTQ community.
The progressive side of iGaming
The iGaming industry prides itself in having inclusivity for all that wish to use their companies. Any adult who owns a computer or a mobile device has the opportunity to participate. The only rules and requirements that online casinos ask for are information about regular identity checks, age verification and ensuring that you are playing by the casino rules. In no way do they mention anything regarding your sexual orientation.
UK online gambling companies are always looking to improve the way that they are doing things, and this includes having a progressive mindset that will ensure they are including everyone that wants to participate in the industry.
The use of technology
Technology in today’s day and age is at the forefront of most industries. Online gambling businesses have used technology to set the tone to allow them to succeed. Just like the wonderful casino options lined up on the strip of Las Vegas, different sites have different themes that you can choose from. Whether you are a pop-culture enthusiast o want to be taken back to the western times, there will always be a theme that you can follow. The idea of this is that as a consumer you have a choice of choosing what theme you love that fits your demographic, including those from the LGBTQ community.
Although the iGaming industry used to have a history of being a bit of a ‘’boys club’’ and not allowing any other genders to play, this is long gone. Online gambling hides anything personal such as marital status, gender, family and sexual orientation, it makes all that is involved in the game of poker, equal. This is a great example of how iGaming has taken out any form of discrimination within the industry.
The UK gambling commission’s equality control
Another reason that the iGaming industry is becoming extremely progressive in terms of inclusivity, comes from the fact that the UKGC is at the heart of most businesses. The UKGC are governing bodies within the industry and have the right to influence gambling legislation or give out fines if they feel companies are doing wrong.
The UKGC also forces companies to comply with the strict player protection protocol, which ensures that they will protect all British player data to avoid harassment of any kind. Similarly, if employees or members of the business are dealing with hostile and nasty conversations, they have the right to monitor all and send them to higher authorities if needed. This Is a great way to allow members and staff to feel safe and secure that will not be discriminated against.
LGBTQ+ within the gambling industry
As of June 2021, it is estimated that over 1,000,000 members of the LGBTQ community gamble/have participated in gambling. Along with these stats, it was also revealed that online casinos were the preference for individuals gambling in the UK, with the industry earning over £300,000,000 in 2019.
IGaming is progressing
It’s clear to see that along with many industries, the iGaming industry has to do more for the LGBTQ community. However, they are definitely becoming one of the front runners on how to handle the situation the best and how to make sure everyone is inclusive. We here at Digital Footprints are proud to be a part of the iGaming industry, whilst also doing everything in our power to ensure that we are an LGBTQ+ friendly company. To find out more about us, contact us now.
