GAMBLING ACT REVIEW WHITE PAPER
example between £2 and £15 per spin
• Greater protection for 18-24-year-olds, such as a £2 limit per stake or an approach based on the risk posed by an individual
l Gaming experience: • Reviewing the speed and features of online games that exacerbate risks, and then making their design safer
• Ensuring incentives such as bonuses and free bets are constructed in what is referred to as a ‘socially responsible manner’
• Making data sharing between online operators and high-risk customers mandatory in the interests of
collaborative harm prevention, subject to trials
• Consultation on whether or not to make player-centric tools such as online deposit limits mandatory, or opt-out rather than opt-in
l Support services: • Strengthen informational messaging, including on the subject of the risks associated with gambling
• Cessation of ‘front of shirt’ advertising of betting firms in the Premier League
• Review Gambling Commission fees, ensuring there is enough resource to implement changes
12 JUNE 2023 GIO
• Introduce a statutory levy paid to the Gambling Commission by operators which would fund research, education and treatment for those harmed by gambling
• Create a new ombudsman role which deals with disputes and provides appropriate redress after customer losses caused by failure in an operator’s social responsibility policy
THE DEMAND FOR MORE REGULATIONS
Britain’s lax approach to iGaming regulation has caused issues in the past. For example, consumer protection for problem gamblers was largely outsourced to users themselves, with the expectation that those who experienced heavy losses were expected to simply ‘self-exclude’ if they felt they were digging themselves into a deeper and deeper hole.
In 2018, the industry founded and funded a platform, called Gamstop, which assisted in this process, but it drew criticism from anti-gambling lobbyists. They argued that addicts were unlikely to be able to make a rational decision themselves on whether or not the service was one they needed. The delay in the white paper’s publication has resulted in many cases of frustration. Since initiation, it has been supervised by four culture secretaries, six gambling ministers and three prime ministers. Horse racing in the UK has suffered because of the
delay, with officials from the industry claiming that as much as £40m as a result of increased restrictions imposed by the Gambling Commission.
PREPARING FOR THE WHITE PAPER
Although it is home to the world’s most prominent and regulated iGaming market, the UK is still hamstrung by restrictions which may well be corrected by the
recommendations within this white paper. While the exact nature of certain aspects are open to interpretation, the need to protect users could not be made any clearer. When it comes to the thorny issue of problem gamblers, the need is much more pressing and urgent.
This is where a robust know-your- customer (KYC) process to verify the identification and legal ages of gamers comes into its own. A highly configurable platform like those used in the financial services sector to prevent money laundering will get gamers online and playing quickly, efficiently and without friction. As regulations continue to evolve across geographies, platform providers need to keep up with the rapidly changing regulatory and legal frameworks. What begins as a way of getting ahead of the competition in the UK is a way of staying ahead of the pack worldwide.
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