COMPLIANCE
iGaming’s duty W
ith the gambling industry under increased scrutiny, it has never been more important for companies to be fully compliant in order to prevent sanctions being placed upon them.
From regulators handing out record fines, to the
role of affiliates hitting the mainstream news agenda, an intense focus on best practice will continue for the foreseeable future, especially with GDPR looming large on the horizon. The mature UK market is regarded as one of the
most respected in igaming, but a recent warning shot, costing one bookmaker almost £8m for ‘outrageous failings’, highlights the consequences should the necessary standards drop. Despite this much-publicised incident, the UK is still
a territory that should be a role model for other regulators looking to draft laws in emerging markets. It is, after all, a very robust framework that allows it to flex its muscles like this when wrong-doers step out of line. Sadly, the same is not currently the case in all jurisdictions, with some still struggling to keep up with advances in technology and consumer trends, having created their laws when only land-based gaming existed. This, among other factors, has left operators and suppliers facing high maintenance and adjustment costs within these jurisdictions. In some cases, where land-based gaming is
prohibited by regulators and complying with online gaming regulations are beyond operators’ reach (either because it is technically too complex and costly to implement, or it is not clearly defined) grey markets emerge. There are no clearly defined rules in these markets, or if there are some in place, they are often misinterpreted by local operators for their own benefit. The lack of or wrongly implemented set of regulatory rules sometimes leads to the existence of ‘private clubs’, which can neither be controlled, nor entered by regulators. It’s a stark contrast to the UK industry which has its finger on the pulse when it comes to protecting players, be that around problem gambling or data protection. It is a good job, because operators will soon face increased fines for data breaches if they fail to comply with GDPR laws that come into force next May. As a provider who has just been awarded a UK
64 NOVEMBER 2017
Regulators should draw inspiration from the industry’s longest established markets if they want to prevent illegal gaming and set out workable rules for operators and suppliers, according to Tom Horn Gaming CEO Ondrej Lapides
licence, Tom Horn Gaming takes compliance seriously as part of our strategy to enter only regulated markets. Our number one priority has always been to provide a safe and secure environment for operators and players to work within, and we employ some of the best brains in the business when it comes to compliance. Ironically, the experience they have gained in other
markets leads us to believe even regulators at the UK Gambling Commission still have the capacity to ensure and provide the safest environment, particularly when it comes to young and potentially vulnerable players For instance, Lithuania’s Category B licence
ensures players aged between 18 and 21 are restricted to a maximum bet stake of 0.50Euros and a maximum pay out of 100Euros. It is the duty of everybody within igaming to ensure that betting remains fun and not a problem. Whether that be by making stringent checks on identity or teaching staff to recognise the signs of a player getting into trouble. Only by educating the general public and learning
from various trends and mistakes from all jurisdictions can we ensure the industry continues to be a safe and fair one.
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