Corporate social responsibility

VOX MANAGE R

Corporate Social Responsibility post Covid-19

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Among the many things that Covid-19 has revealed is a newfound sense of unity that cuts across jurisdictional boundaries, countries and communities. Neighbourhoods across the world turned inward in an attempt to safeguard public health, highlighting the collective inter-dependence of every individual to one another. We have also seen how in moments of unparalleled crises, the sense of profound responsibility and solidarity towards fellow man in a shared society have fostered the emergence of some of our best qualities. Admittedly, the virus has had a more detrimental impact on socio-economically challenged and vulnerable individuals. Nevertheless, the virus remains highly contagious regardless of social class, religious creed, or nationality/culture. Healthcare workers, in particular, stood out for their sense of responsibility and dedication to those who have been hit hardest by Covid-19. In the midst of the tragic circumstances generated by Covid-19, we also found it possible to rediscover values such as solidarity, courage, and a sense of community for the benefit of broader public health. This has reinforced in all of us an enhanced awareness and connection to social conscience, justice, and shared equities that unite – rather than divide -- fellow citizens. These values had grown increasingly invisible or latent in the era of excess pre-Covid-19. Now, they will possibly be used as proxy to evaluate people’s actions and companies’ social commitments in the future. Companies in general and gaming organizations in particular, will therefore be called upon to demonstrate a greater commitment to social responsibility and will change and determine new consustainability. sumption habits, and digital transforInnovation and product development mation will accelerate this process. For processes will be increasingly founded this reason, consumer choice will pivot on principles of transparency and ethics to the most convenient, nimble and sewith the aim of generating tangible and cure digital payments and transactions. measurable social benefits. Gaming It is therefore imperative to invest more companies, regardless of where they in cyber security services and have saare located, will therefore have to refeguarding measures in place alongsiview their corporate social responsibility de higher global compliance standards initiatives, and increase investments in which inspire public confidence. projects related to the creation of value The introduction of processes and for society, the protection of the envitechnological solutions which enhance ronment and consumers. cybersecurity standards end-to-end -- Effective initiatives internal or external from products, services and processes, to the organizations, relating to the safeto transactions and finally to customers guarding of diversity, inclusion and gen– will serve as key benchmarks for evader equality will be increasingly relevant, luating gaming companies, among the in an ever-evolving society and market market, the public, regulators and public context where social justice will be plastakeholders. ced at the centre of human interaction. The extent and effectiveness of measuWhile more and more governments, res to combat fraud and money laundesome more affected than others by the ring including match-fixing and collupandemic, will be called upon to regusion are other examples that may realize late gaming or to speed up the regulaa commitment to social responsibility tory processes already underway, with and consumer protection. the objective of generating additional In today’s world, it is more obvious than revenues, the gaming industry itself will ever that the evolution of the gaming be called upon to meet a higher bar of market and social responsibility can and maturity. must sustain each other. I believe that The objective is to invest more and, in some cases they are even dependent above all, more effectively in social reupon each other and that now there can sponsibility. On top of regulators and be no sustainable growth without full sogovernments, consumers and the marcial responsibility. ket as a whole are now clamouring for this. Introducing concrete Ludovico Calvi measures to protect consumers’ health with regards to problem • President of Global Lottery Monitoring System Executive Committee gambling behaviours will beco• Member of the American Gaming me essential, just to point to one Association Sport Betting Task Force (Aga) example. • Member of the World Lottery Association (Wla) Sports Betting Integrity Committee Some consumer behaviour