UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has introduced new regulations that are aimed to make sure that all local customers are offered the same tools to monitor their gambling activities by the companies that run online gambling websites in the country.
The Programme Director at the UK Gambling Commission Sharon McNair commented on the implementation of the new regulatory conditions, saying that users must be given the chance to make informed choices concerning their online gambling activity.
Back in October 2016, the UK gambling regulatory watchdog released a special consultation on remote gambling and software technical standards until the mid January 2017. The consultation was aimed to ensure that various measures and information are available to customers in order for them to make informed choices and decisions about their gambling activities.
As UKGC’s Programme Director Sharon McNair further explained that the findings of the Commission’s recent consultation showed that there are some differences in the approach used by the licensed operators as far as the information available to customers is concerned. Ms. McNair also shared that the new piece of regulation seek to address the accessibility of information in order to ensure greater consistency in the information that could be accessed by customers despite which operator’s services they choose.
The UK gambling regulatory watchdog’s Programme Director also explained that the main goal for gambling operators needs to be them seeing beyond the bottom line in order to provide their users with both high-quality gambling products and at the same time guarantee that all risks would be managed efficiently, keeping the environment fair and safe for both customers and operators.
The new regulations included requirements under which iGaming operators need to make sure that the account and gambling history of the customers provides enough information for a certain period of time and is also easy to understand. Remote gambling companies that operate on the territory of the UK must also offer their users access to thorough information concerning their net deposits and also allow them to set certain financial limits on both their account as a whole and on individual games as well. Under the new rules, customers will also be able to get direct access to 3 months’ worth of account and gambling information, and a minimum period of 12 months would be available on request.
The UK Gambling Commission published the updated version of its remote gambling and software technical standards. Still, it has given remote gaming operators until April 1st 2018 to make sure they have the new regulations and requirements implemented. Also, a number of additional requirements which concern the information displayed to customers are set to take effect on October 1st 2017.
Ms. McNair announced that the online gambling market’s growth was driven by innovation and technological advancement every year. According to the Commission’s observations across the sector, operators were also engaged in the development of new gambling products and technologies, which was also a matter of significance as far as the future advancement of the sector was concerned.
- Author
Daniel Williams
