Paddy Power Founder Warns Game Speed of Online Slots Is Addictive 

  • Stewart Kenny warned of the speed at which players can “repeat the dose”
  • Kenny added that slot machines provide “plenty of noise and plenty of colours”
  • Kenny stated onus to make gambling safe falls upon governmental, regulatory bodies
Online casino reflected in man's glasses
The founder of Paddy Power has warned the speed of UK online slots can lead to gambling addiction. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

Speed feeds need

Stewart Kenny, the founder of Paddy Power, has warned about the addictive nature of current UK online slots, saying that the accelerated speed of gameplay feeds the compulsion. 

online slot games simply spin too fast

Kenny believes that, despite the UK government limiting betting stakes, online slot games simply spin too fast. Kenny resigned from the Flutter Entertainment board in 2016 over allegations the company was “not doing enough to protect vulnerable customers using its websites.”

The ex-Paddy Power boss still enjoys gambling and frequently bets on dogs and horses but has grave misgivings about the UK government’s grip on online slots. 

The BBC on Monday cited Kenny as stating the iCasino time-lapse of “only seconds” between investment and results means bettors can “repeat the dose” at high speed.

Not enough

Even with the UK government limiting bettor stakes, Kenny thinks the addictive, speed-fueled pull of iCasino games is not enough to combat the major side issue of addiction.   

The UK government introduced the bettor stake caps to combat “a higher-risk gambling product associated with large losses, long sessions, and binge play.”

In a new BBC Radio 4 documentary, Kenny maintains the speed of games is what makes them addictive.

He added the slot machines provide “plenty of noise and plenty of colours” and near misses on jackpots are “fundamental to gambling addiction.”

Long-held argument

Kenny’s beef with his ex-board over the UK’s online betting industry, which is worth £15.6bn ($20.2bn) and led the worldwide market until the US’s recent addition of more iCasino-regulated states to the mix, goes back to 2016. 

made the cocktail too strong”

While still a board member, Kenny took a line that the internet was addictive by nature and that introducing iCasino has “made the cocktail too strong.”

Kenny places the onus on governmental and regulatory bodies to make gambling safe.

“There’s a balance here. If you want to bet, you should be allowed to bet. It’s a free society. So you don’t want to interfere with people’s entertainment too much. It’s so easy to blame the betting companies. This is a matter for legislators.”

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