Yesterday afternoon, the UK gambling standards association The Senet Group confirmed that its responsibilities are set to be transferred to the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) as of April 8th, 2020. The assets and responsibilities of The Senet Group would be handed over to the new standards body of the gambling industry a part of the commitment of the BGC to ensure safer gambling in the UK.
The Senet Group was formed in September 2014 thanks to the collaboration between four leading high-street gambling operators who were willing to see the standards in the sector raised and maintained. The responsible gambling body was the one that has been operating the MOSES self-exclusion scheme for retail gambling companies. It has also run the “When the Fun Stops Stop” messaging campaigns aimed at raising players’ awareness of possible gambling-related harm.
Since it was established, The Senet Group has managed to expand its membership, with many of the leading brick-and-mortar and online gambling companies having pledged to adopt and implement voluntary practices that have made gambling services in the UK fairer, safer and more transparent to consumers.
A year ago, in April 2019, The Senet Group started a cross-industry collaboration project focused on the development of a programme of industry reform, reflecting the concern regarding the negative impact that gambling could have on more vulnerable individuals in the UK.
Self-Exclusion Scheme MOSES to Continue Existence as Independent Organisation
Back in November 2019, at the time of the endorsement of all BGC members, the Safer Gambling Commitments’ resulting package was announced. As part of the commitment made by the members of the Betting and Gaming Council, the companies have been required to voluntarily adopt the “whistle-to-whistle” advertising ban during live sports events.
Apart from that, the BGC members are required to implement new age-verification and ID checks for their customers and to boost their voluntary funding for education, research and treatment of gambling addiction. Moreover, they had to end any exclusive rights to screen FA Cup games. Earlier this year, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) also unveiled a decision to ban the use of credit cards for gambling transactions, so UK gambling companies would have to make sure they are in line with that requirement, too.
After the responsibilities of The Senet Group are transferred to the Betting and Gaming Council on April 8th, new the self-exclusion scheme MOSES is set to continue operation as an independent organisation that would not be controlled by the BGC.
The announcement was confirmed by the Chairman of The Senet Group, Gillian Wilmot, who explained that the collaboration would offer the chance to combine resources to deliver fairer and safer gambling initiatives for local customers and also reminded that protecting its customers would remain a matter of paramount importance for the industry.
- Author
Daniel Williams
