Today, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) published a report into the enforcement action which was taken against local gambling operators over the past year.
The Enforcement report of the major UK gambling regulatory body emphasised on the lessons it wants to teach to gambling companies, following investigations of alleged breaches of the country’s gambling legislation. Apart from carrying out an investigation on the matter the Commission also provided some guidance to local gambling operators related to anti-money laundering, customer protection and interaction, unfair terms and practices, gambling marketing and advertising, as well as self-exclusion.
The Chief Executive Officer of the UKGC, Neil McArthur, shared that the Commission aims to make gambling companies pay attention to the lessons set out in its latest effort, as the watchdog is aimed at making the local gambling industry fairer and safer for customers. Mr. McArthur also added that the Gambling Commission also wants gambling companies to become more engaged in customer protection by investing the same amount of money they do to creating new products in research, data and technology.
UKGC Works in Several Directions in Terms of Gambling Industry
Ensuring a fair, transparent and secure gambling environment for all participants in the British gambling market, especially when it comes to consumer protection from possible gambling-related harm.
As mentioned above, the report issued by the Commission today is focused on a number of hot topics, including anti-money laundering, customer interaction, self-exclusion option, unfair terms and practices used by gambling operators, marketing and advertising campaigns of gambling companies and illegal gambling.
As far as anti-money laundering is concerned, the watchdog has always been aimed at making sure that the local gambling industry stays free from crime, while the proceeds of criminal finance remains a major area of concern. All licensees are expected to be in line with the terms of their licences when it comes to counter terrorist financing and anti-money laundering. The Commission has already taken enforcement action against a number of companies to make them face the consequences from their anti-money laundering failures. Some of the most notable cases included Silverbond Enterprises Limited in June 2016, Stan James Online in October 2017 and William Hill Group in February 2018. Over the past year, a total of 22 investigations into remote casino operators after a thorough compliance review.
Customer interaction has also been a major concern of the UKGC on its way to ensure that British players are guaranteed safer gambling. This is the reason why the Commission expects local gambling companies to work in terms of minimisation of gambling-related harm. The watchdog reminded that social responsibility codes are built into the license conditions and codes of practice (LCCP) and operators were expected to do whatever needed in order for them to protect their consumers and the wider public from negative consequences associated with gambling. The Commission took regulatory action against a number of companies, with key license reviews carried out in terms of 888 in August 2017 and Gala Interactive in November 2017.
The self-exclusion option has been provided to UK players who want to make sure they stay away from their problem gambling behaviour. As revealed by the UKGC in its latest report, a number of operators have already successfully introduced software related to the self-exclusion option. However, several cases of companies which have failed to stay in line with the regulatory requirements and have allowed self-excluded customers to continue gambling in spite of the fact that they have taken advantage of the option. The Commission has taken enforcement action against a number of companies in terms of significant failures on self-exclusion, including 888 in August 2017, Sky Betting & Gaming in March 2018 and Tabcorp in April 2018.
The major gambling regulator has studied the situation regarding unfair terms and practices in the UK gambling industry and took action against a holder of an online operating licence in 2017. Allegedly, the operator had promoted bonus offers on a number of separate brands which were all subjected to its terms and conditions.
Gambling marketing and advertising have also been one of the areas in which the UKGC has taken enforcement action against a number of companies for failures. The Commission has imposed hefty fines on operators such as BGO in April 2017, EU Lotto Limited in June 2017, Broadway Gaming in December 2017 and Electraworks in February 2018. The watchdog has been aimed at raising local gambling operators’ concern and make companies invest more money in customer protection than in misleading advertising campaigns which could result in an increase in the number of players hooked to gambling.
Last but not least, the opening of criminal investigations against illegal gambling practices has been a key part of the UK Gambling Commission’s enforcement work. The regulator has stayed focused on making sure that illegal gambling is eliminated successfully, with local customers being well-protected against gambling-related harm.
- Author
Daniel Williams
