Exploring the Need for Enhanced Protection in Swiss Online Gambling: A Study on Self-Exclusion and its Impact

This bachelor's thesis investigates psychological, financial, and social motivations for voluntary self-exclusion from online casino gambling. It evaluates its effectiveness and determines the necessity for a more extensive exclusion of the illegal online market.

Isabel Olivos & Joana Fröhlich, 2025

Type of Thesis Bachelor Thesis
Client Casino Zürichsee AG
Supervisor Nicol Brogle, Anja
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The Swiss legalized casino gambling in 2000, leading to strict regulations. In 2019, the Federal Gambling Act (FGA) was expanded to cover online gambling. Self-exclusion programs are valuable tools for mitigating the harms of gambling, but there are still significant gaps in understanding why people self-exclude and how effective it is. Research shows growth in online and illegal gambling, showing gaps in protecting players, especially vulnerable demographics. This emphasizes the need for cross-border collaborations, advanced harm-reduction tools, and stronger enforcement.
This bachelor thesis is the initial phase of a long-term study on voluntary self-exclusion and its impact, conducted on behalf of Swiss Casinos. The study explores the interests and needs of self-excluded casino guests and the option of a broader exclusion on online gambling. An exploratory, survey-based approach was employed to investigate the voluntary self-exclusion (VSE) among Swiss Casinos' online users and its impact on their lives. 181 participants completed an online survey. The responses were analyzed to explore trends, motivations, and the effectiveness of self-exclusion measures.
The results revealed that the main reasons for self-exclusion were precaution, time spent gambling, and financial losses. After exclusion, many participants showed improvements in emotional well-being and financial stability. However, there was dissatisfaction with the scope of self-exclusion. Interest in extending the scope of self-exclusion measures, such as the adoption of tools like Gamban, was found to be mixed. The discussion highlights that VSE is an effective harm-reduction tool, improving well-being while addressing motivations. Challenges such as circumvention and gaps in awareness emphasize the necessity for enhanced player protection measures. The conclusion emphasizes the integration of self-exclusion mechanisms with technology and regulation to create a safer gambling environment. The next steps will mark the beginning of the longitudinal study. Its purpose is to evaluate the sustained impacts of self-exclusion measures on the financial and emotional well-being of study participants. Gamban will be piloted to see if it can block illegal gambling platforms, which will help to develop a harm-reduction framework.
Studyprogram: Business Administration International Management (Bachelor)
Keywords swiss online gambling, voluntary self-exclusion, illegal online gambling market
Confidentiality: öffentlich
Type of Thesis
Bachelor Thesis
Client
Casino Zürichsee AG
Authors
Isabel Olivos & Joana Fröhlich
Supervisor
Nicol Brogle, Anja
Publication Year
2025
Thesis Language
English
Confidentiality
Public
Studyprogram
Business Administration International Management (Bachelor)
Location
Olten
Keywords
swiss online gambling, voluntary self-exclusion, illegal online gambling market