Responsible Gambling

BetFlow Payments Ltd ("BetFlow") is committed to supporting responsible gambling across the sports betting ecosystem. As a payment gateway provider that facilitates financial transactions between players and licensed sportsbook operators, we recognise our unique position in helping to identify and prevent problem gambling through payment-level controls and monitoring.

While the primary responsibility for responsible gambling lies with the sportsbook operators who hold direct relationships with their players, BetFlow believes that payment service providers have an important role to play in supporting responsible gambling initiatives. We work closely with our operator partners to ensure that our payment infrastructure supports the effective implementation of responsible gambling tools, including deposit limits, self-exclusion mechanisms, cooling-off periods, and reality checks.

Our responsible gambling programme is guided by the principles established by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), and leading industry bodies including the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) and the International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA). We continuously review and enhance our responsible gambling capabilities in line with evolving regulatory requirements and industry best practices. We firmly believe that a sustainable sports betting industry is one that prioritises player protection and operates with integrity.

BetFlow's payment gateway supports the implementation of self-exclusion programmes by sportsbook operators, enabling players who wish to take a break from gambling to have their payment transactions blocked at the gateway level. This provides an additional layer of protection beyond the operator's own self-exclusion mechanisms.

When a player registers for self-exclusion with a sportsbook operator, the operator can transmit the self-exclusion instruction to BetFlow via our API or merchant dashboard. Once activated, BetFlow will automatically decline all deposit transactions from the self-excluded player across all payment methods registered with the affected operator. This includes card payments, bank transfers, e-wallet deposits, and any other payment method processed through our gateway. The self-exclusion block remains in place for the duration of the self-exclusion period, which is typically a minimum of six (6) months in accordance with MGA requirements.

BetFlow also supports integration with national and cross-operator self-exclusion schemes, such as GAMSTOP in the United Kingdom and the MGA's National Self-Exclusion Register in Malta. Where an operator is registered with such a scheme, BetFlow can cross-reference deposit attempts against the scheme's database to identify and block transactions from players who have self-excluded across all operators. We encourage all our operator partners to participate in applicable cross-operator self-exclusion schemes and to leverage our payment-level blocking capabilities to reinforce their self-exclusion programmes.

BetFlow provides payment-level deposit limit enforcement capabilities that enable sportsbook operators to set and enforce financial limits on player deposits processed through our gateway. These controls operate independently of the operator's platform-level limits, providing a failsafe that prevents excessive deposits even in the event of a technical failure or misconfiguration at the platform level.

Operators can configure deposit limits through our API or merchant dashboard at multiple levels: per-transaction limits (maximum amount for a single deposit), daily limits (maximum total deposits within a rolling 24-hour period), weekly limits (maximum total deposits within a rolling 7-day period), and monthly limits (maximum total deposits within a rolling 30-day period). Limits can be set globally for all players or customised for individual players based on the operator's responsible gambling assessments.

BetFlow's system enforces deposit limits in real time at the point of transaction processing. When a player attempts a deposit that would exceed any configured limit, the transaction is automatically declined and the player is presented with a clear message explaining that their deposit limit has been reached. The operator is also notified via webhook so that they can take appropriate follow-up action, such as displaying responsible gambling messaging or suggesting that the player review their limits.

In accordance with regulatory best practices, BetFlow supports asymmetric limit adjustment rules: players can decrease their deposit limits with immediate effect, but any increase to a deposit limit is subject to a cooling-off period of at least twenty-four (24) hours before taking effect. This prevents impulsive decisions to raise limits during periods of heightened emotional states.

While reality checks and time-based interventions are primarily implemented at the operator platform level, BetFlow supports these initiatives by providing operators with real-time transaction data and analytics that can trigger responsible gambling interventions based on financial behaviour patterns.

BetFlow's API provides operators with aggregated deposit data that can be used to implement session-based spending alerts. For example, operators can configure webhooks to receive notifications when a player's cumulative deposits within a session exceed a specified threshold, enabling the operator to display a reality check pop-up reminding the player of their total spending and time spent on the platform. These notifications are delivered in real time, ensuring that interventions are timely and relevant.

We also provide operators with access to historical transaction analytics through our merchant dashboard and reporting API, which can be used to identify players whose deposit patterns may indicate problematic gambling behaviour. These analytics include metrics such as deposit frequency, average deposit amounts, deposit-to-withdrawal ratios, time-of-day patterns, and changes in behaviour over time. Operators can use these insights to proactively reach out to players who may benefit from responsible gambling support.

BetFlow is committed to developing additional payment-level responsible gambling tools in collaboration with our operator partners and regulatory authorities. We actively participate in industry working groups focused on responsible gambling innovation and are continually exploring how payment data and technology can be leveraged to enhance player protection in the sports betting ecosystem.

Gambling is an age-restricted activity, and BetFlow is committed to ensuring that our payment services are not used to facilitate gambling by persons under the legal gambling age in their respective jurisdictions. In most jurisdictions where our operator partners are licensed, the legal gambling age is eighteen (18), though some jurisdictions set the minimum age at twenty-one (21).

BetFlow requires all operator partners to implement robust age verification procedures as a condition of using our payment gateway services. Operators must verify the age and identity of all players before allowing them to deposit funds, in accordance with their licensing requirements. BetFlow's onboarding process includes a review of each operator's age verification procedures to ensure they meet the standards required by their licensing authority and by BetFlow's own compliance requirements.

At the payment level, BetFlow employs additional safeguards to mitigate the risk of underage gambling. Our fraud prevention systems flag transactions that exhibit characteristics commonly associated with underage users, including the use of prepaid cards (which may not have age-verified holders), transactions from devices or IP addresses associated with known minors, and patterns of activity inconsistent with adult behaviour. Any such flags are communicated to the operator for further investigation.

BetFlow does not knowingly process deposits for any player who has not been age-verified by the relevant operator. If we become aware that deposits have been processed for an underage player, we will work with the operator to ensure that all funds are returned to the player's payment method and that the player's account is closed immediately. We reserve the right to suspend an operator's access to our services if we determine that their age verification procedures are inadequate or not being properly enforced.

BetFlow leverages its position as a payment gateway to assist operators in identifying potential problem gambling behaviour through transaction pattern analysis. While we do not have direct relationships with players, the payment data we process can reveal behavioural indicators that warrant further investigation by the operator.

Our transaction monitoring systems are configured to detect patterns commonly associated with problem gambling, including: escalating deposit amounts over time (progressive increases in deposit size that may indicate chasing losses); high-frequency deposits (an unusually high number of deposit transactions within a short period); late-night and early-morning deposits (clusters of transactions during hours associated with impulsive behaviour); multiple failed deposit attempts (repeated attempts to deposit after reaching limits or experiencing card declines, which may indicate compulsive behaviour); and rapid cycling (frequent deposits followed by immediate withdrawals with minimal betting activity).

When our systems identify patterns that meet defined thresholds, we generate responsible gambling alerts that are communicated to the operator via our merchant dashboard and, where configured, via real-time webhooks. These alerts provide the operator with a summary of the flagged behaviour and enable them to take appropriate action, which may include contacting the player, applying deposit limits, suggesting self-exclusion, or providing information about support resources.

BetFlow's responsible gambling alerts are designed to complement, not replace, the operator's own player monitoring systems. We encourage all operators to maintain comprehensive responsible gambling programmes that include both payment-level and platform-level monitoring, and to train their staff to recognise and respond to signs of problem gambling. We are committed to sharing anonymised and aggregated insights about problem gambling patterns across our operator network to help the industry improve its collective ability to protect vulnerable players.

BetFlow encourages anyone who is concerned about their own or someone else's gambling to seek help from the following specialist support organisations. These organisations provide free, confidential advice and support to people affected by problem gambling:

GamCare (gamcare.org.uk) - The leading provider of information, advice, and support for anyone affected by gambling problems in the UK. GamCare operates the National Gambling Helpline (0808 8020 133), available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and provides online counselling and support through their website.

Gambling Therapy (gamblingtherapy.org) - A global service offering free practical advice and emotional support to anyone affected by problem gambling. Gambling Therapy provides multilingual online support, including live chat, forums, and a smartphone app, making help accessible to players worldwide.

Gamblers Anonymous (gamblersanonymous.org) - A fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other to solve their common problem and help others recover from a gambling addiction. GA operates meetings worldwide, both in person and online.

BeGambleAware (begambleaware.org) - A UK charity that commissions prevention and treatment services for gambling harm. BeGambleAware provides a comprehensive range of resources, including self-assessment tools, and operates the National Gambling Treatment Service in partnership with the NHS.

GAMSTOP (gamstop.co.uk) - The free national self-exclusion scheme for the UK. GAMSTOP enables individuals to restrict their online gambling activities across all UKGC-licensed operators for a chosen period of 6 months, 1 year, or 5 years.

If you are a sportsbook operator using BetFlow's services, we strongly encourage you to prominently display links to these and other relevant support organisations on your platform, and to ensure that your customer support teams are trained to recognise signs of problem gambling and to signpost appropriate help.

All sportsbook operators using BetFlow's payment gateway services are contractually required to maintain a comprehensive responsible gambling programme that meets the requirements of their licensing authority and applicable law. Failure to meet these requirements may result in suspension or termination of the operator's access to BetFlow's services.

Operators must, at a minimum: implement and enforce age verification procedures that prevent persons under the legal gambling age from depositing funds; offer self-exclusion tools that enable players to voluntarily exclude themselves from gambling for a minimum period, and participate in applicable cross-operator self-exclusion schemes; provide players with the ability to set deposit limits (daily, weekly, and monthly) and ensure that limit increases are subject to a cooling-off period; display responsible gambling messaging prominently on their platform, including links to support organisations; and train their customer support staff to recognise signs of problem gambling and to signpost appropriate support resources.

Operators are also required to cooperate with BetFlow in the implementation of payment-level responsible gambling controls, including providing timely self-exclusion instructions via our API, configuring appropriate deposit limit parameters, and responding promptly to responsible gambling alerts generated by our monitoring systems. Operators must designate a responsible gambling officer or equivalent role within their organisation who serves as the primary point of contact for responsible gambling matters with BetFlow.

BetFlow reserves the right to conduct periodic reviews of each operator's responsible gambling programme, including requesting documentation of their responsible gambling policies, training records, and self-exclusion procedures. Where we identify deficiencies or non-compliance, we will work with the operator to develop a remediation plan. Persistent non-compliance may result in enhanced monitoring, transaction restrictions, or termination of the business relationship.