Yesterday, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) published a response of its Executive Director Tim Miller to the findings of the progress report launched by the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board (RGSB).
As revealed by the major gambling regulatory body of the UK, the above-mentioned report has once again proved that there is still a lot of work to be done in terms of customer protection and tackling gambling-related harm. The Commission explained that some progress was marked in delivering the National Responsible Gambling Strategy, but also shared its concern with the fact that many of the priorities set in the three-year plan have not seen any action which they were supposed to.
Yesterday, the RGSB published its annual assessment of how much progress has been made in terms of delivering the goals over the second year of the three-year National Responsible Gambling Strategy. The latter provides a summary of the progress made in the delivery of the 12 priorities set and unveils what else needs to be done in order for the goals’ delivery to be done over the third and final year of the Strategy.
Image credits: Responsible Gambling Strategy Board (RGSB)
According to the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board, the twelve priority actions set in the three-year strategy still reflected the right approach to make sure that gambling-related harm is reduced. The Board, however, explained that the UK gambling industry also needs to see more intense effort for the following 12 months, especially in some areas.
UKGC Cannot Make It On Its Own, Says Miller
According to Mr. Miller and the UKGC, the concerns shed some light on those within the Commission’s ambitious strategy which aims at making gambling safer and fairer for customers. As revealed by the British gambling regulatory body, the real challenge for competent authorities is how to ensure a gambling sector that not only offers massive consumer choice, but also protect customers from the risks associated with gambling and its impact on the society.
The Commission also said that it cannot face these challenges on its own, despite a lot of recommendations included in the RGSB’s assessment of the National Responsible Gambling Strategy point at the Commission as the industry regulator which should address the matters related to the Strategy priorities’ delivery. The UK gambling regulatory body further reminded that there are more than two million people who are categorised as problem gamblers or players at risk in the country and shared that everyone in the industry should do something to help.
Mr. Miller shared that the UK Gambling Commission needs long-lasting partnerships with the Government, with other regulatory bodies, and last, but not least, with consumer representatives, in order to make sure that all priorities set in the three-year strategy are addressed. The Executive Director of the gambling watchdog also reminded that the industry needs to invest more efforts into raising the standards and reduce gambling-related harm.
- Author
Daniel Williams
