888 has announced an expansion of its safer gambling provisions in Europe, launching its Control Centre in the Italian market. 

Citing Italy as one of the ‘key regulated markets’, 888 detailed that the rollout of the Control Centre in the country forms part of its ‘Made to Play Safely’ ESG policy, in turn a pillar of its ‘Made for the Future’ framework. 

The global gambling group aims to promote safe and responsible decision making by its Italian customers, whilst also normalising the use of safer gambling tools. 

Andrew Anthony, VP, Customer Safety & Due Diligence at 888, said: “I am delighted to see The Control Centre rolled out in another of our core markets. At 888 we recognise the need to use our proprietary technology to protect customers and promote safer play.

“By giving customers transparent information about their gambling activity in real time, we continue to ensure that safer gambling remains at the heart of the 888 customer experience.”

Tools provided by the Control Centre include gambling activity monitoring using real-time data, deposit limits, self-exclusion limits and ‘take a break restrictions’.

Launched towards the end of 2020 in the UK market, 888’s Control Centre was designed as a ‘one stop shop’ for safer gambling provisions, and has since secured entry into additional markets and expanded its product range. 

The company cites a 23% increase in safer gambling tool usage during 2021, attributed to the Control Centre, whilst adding that customers using the tools are more likely to amend personal deposit limits and 102% more likely to ‘take a break’ from betting.

According to 888’s 2021 trading results, the company experienced 18% growth in its ‘core markets’ – which include Italy alongside the UK and Spain – whilst CEO Itai Pazner explained that safer gambing would continue to play a key role in its market expansion.

“We are focused on ensuring that our customers are empowered to make safe and responsible decisions about their gambling, and we remain committed to continually investing in our teams and technology to create industry-leading, user-friendly tools that help achieve this,” Anthony added. 

“We look forward to introducing The Control Centre across more markets over the coming years.”