Control Centre
888.com’s safe gaming dashboard:
A one-stop-shop, AI-based platform for safe gaming insights, controls, and tips.
2020-21
Introduction
Control Centre, 888.com's AI-driven observer dashboard, is a major feature on the company's roadmap. The dashboard displays and monitors user gaming activity and provides easy access to safe gambling tools and information. This is a “one-stop-shop” for reviewing data and taking action accordingly.
The team
I collaborated with the PM on wireframes (UX) and created the UI design and prototypes.
Project duration
10 Months
The problem
Regulatory oversight of online gambling has become increasingly stringent in recent years, resulting in a tightening of restrictions on users' gaming activities. Some users are unaware of the limitations they can set and self-exclude instead.
What could we do to educate users about being responsible before it becomes a problem and to preserve the company's profits at the same time?
User research
In order to find out who are the problem gamblers and to understand their pain points, we conducted a gamblers type study. In our research, we learned that problem gamblers lose control over time and spending amounts.
Research methods
Listened to case studies presented by the support team
Read gambling addiction articles
Watched documentaries about compulsive gamblers
Attend public open meetings of anonymous gamblers to raise empathy
Personas
We have defined 5 types of gamblers personas, each of which can become the next persona in line if its gambling behavior changes:
Gambler's type
Occasional Odette
Risk level
Low
How should we act
Educate
"Online gambling is fun but I can barely find the time to play”
Gambler's type
Regular Robert
Risk level
Medium
How should we act
Monitor
"Online gambling is one of my favorite activities!”
Gambler's type
Heavy Harry
Risk level
High
How should we act
Alert
"I’m not a gambling addict, I’m just having fun"
Gambler's type
Abusive Alex
Risk level
Very High
How should we act
Restrict
"I barely slept last night, tried to get my money back”
Gambler's type
Pathological Pam
Risk level
Critical
How should we act
Block
"I can't stop whether I win or lose"
The solution
According to our findings, the Control Centre dashboard should display financial, time, and engagement KPIs. We can help our users practice safe gambling with the dashboard. With the Control Centre dashboard, they can monitor and understand their gambling behavior.
Our high-level goals are for the dashboard to be
Effective
Help our users to maintain control while at the same time, improve business revenue by reducing the number of self-exclude users due to overuse
Accessible
Prior to the dashboard, it was difficult to find the responsible gaming tools on our platform. Our goal was to make it clear and easy to use for the user
Reflective
Give users real data so they can decide how they want to act
Appealing
Make it beautiful and pleasant to use, and let it seamlessly integrate with our gaming product's user interface
While working on the project, we had the personas glued on the wall in front us the whole time- to maintain empathy.
The Control Centre sections
Activity
Is my time and money activity meeting expectations?
Put transparency first and build trust.
Clicking the “i” will open a tool tip with a short explanation and an option to read more.
Controls
How can I control my activities?
Gives the user a sense of control and empowerment.
Each control tool is OFF by default and becomes ON once the user activates it.
OFF
ON
Insights
Am I in a dangerous trend?
Insights types
Empty states
Cards' rear tooltip
Information
Learn more about the product itself and the world of Responsible Gaming in general.
Account Restrictions
What will I do if I lose control anyway?
Gives the user a sense of "escape route" if necessary.
Process and concept evolution
We used the card sorting method to find the right hierarchy of dashboard components. First on mobile and then on desktop.
Card sorting allowed us to preform quick changes while better understanding business needs.
Mobile mockup evolution
One of the challenges we had was solving the desktops' dashboard access.
First, we tried an iFrame option but eventually came up with the "Desktop-right drawer" concept that gave us a future solution for other products and had very strong 2 advantages:
-
The user can continue playing without the dashboard hiding the screen
-
Save dev time as it takes most of the parameters from mobile
iFrame option
GAME AREA
Desktop-right drawer
Product’s main features
In 888’s industry leading Control Centre dashboard, players can:
Open directly from a mini dashboard
The product contains 2 dashboards: Mini and full.
The “2 versions” concept was inspired by running apps that cooperate with a fitness watch.
Once logged in, the user can go to the “user area” to take actions like viewing balance, make a deposit, withdrawal and view current stats in the mini Control Centre. If the user would like to get more information, he can open the full dashboard from the mini.
The mini dashboard provides last 24 hrs statistics, when a user reaches the full dashboard it is out of conscious and proactive action, and not "by chance" as in the mini. Here the user pays more attention to details and interacts with the content.
In desktop, in addition to the mini dashboard, the user can also access the dashboard from an icon that is in the main game area header.
Set proactive deposit limits
The Controls section's Deposit Limits tool gives the user the ability to control his activity through positive limitations and inevitably gives him a sense of control and empowerment.
Set a Deposit Limit for the first time
Increase a Deposit Limit and enter pending state
Notice the progress bar in the mini dashboard (Last 24 Hours Stats) that is affected by the Deposit Limit use.
By the Control Centre state of mind, increasing an existing limit is an irresponsible action, therefor there’s a pending period until the new limit becomes available. The sand clock icon indicates the last change is on a pending period.
Set Notification Preferences
This Controls section's tool allows the user to set his promotional notification preferences. He can choose whether he want to receive email, SMS, post mail or none.
Set helpful reminders
Set a reminder to keep track of how long you have been logged in.
User Testing
We interviewed 6 of our crowd audience users and made significant changes based on their feedback.
Unclear Deposit Limits usage
Before
Users referred to the highlighted amount as to “how much they got left”, although it was how much they have already used.
After
We changed the meaning of the highlighted amount to be as they thought it was and in addition, added an explanatory text regarding the limit amount.
Unclear terminology #1
Before
Reality Check was not clear and users misunderstood it's meaning.
After
We changed it to “Time Spent Reminder”
Unclear terminology #2
Before
-
“ProTips” were misunderstood as tips for better gambling as opposed to the intended meaning of “Safe Gambling Tips”
-
"Learn More" was ambiguous, testers didn’t know what is there more to learn
After
-
Once changed to “Safe Gambling Tips”, 3 remaining testers understood it perfectly
-
We changed it to "Learn More" to “Useful Links” to make it clearer
Quotes
Safe gambling tips to bail out.
I think it’s important.
It's basic but looks futuristic, it exited me.
Ayo B.
This is a god sent app to me because it tells you when to stop. It's top nosh and easy to use.
Mohammed A.
I do appreciate a good little insight. Good way of seeing my spending and withdrawing activity.
Nathan M.
Control Centre post-launch statistics
26%
of the users who opened user area, opened the full
Control Centre through the mini Control Centre
50%
of the users revisited the Control Centre, which
means it is highly useful
21%
of the users acted: set a Deposit Limit, took a
break of self-exclude
-2.1%
Revenue decrease which we hope will pay off over time in lifetime value
What is next
Gradually adding users and markets: The Control Centre was soft launched in our Casino and Sport products, in a few markets and to 20% of our users as a test group
Personalization: In the MVP, the personalization is reflected in the KPIs but in the future, the experience will be customize per each member’s needs and profile
More controls: in the MVP, the Control Centre launched with only some of the controls, the rest will be added later
Takeaways
Testing tools and timing is critical
We had a firm deadline to launch the MVP by Nov. 2020 and planed for first user testing on March 2020 but due to Covid implications we had many delays and ended up preforming usability tests later than expected and after it moved to development. No doubt if we were able to test it earlier it would have optimized and shortened the process, allowing us a second stage of user testing after implementing the first testing feedback.
We conducted user testing with User Zoom. I first became acquainted with the company's amazing tool for remote user testing which is highly effective especially in Covid times.