The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) decided to significantly increase the financial penalties against gambling operators while companies are being warned to make sure they do not take advantage of consumers during the second coronavirus pandemic lockdown.
A few days ago, the gambling regulatory body published its latest Compliance and Enforcement Report, providing more information about the efforts it took over the 12 months that ended in March 2020 to make sure that all licenced retail and online gambling companies were in line with the rules. At the same time, the UKGC decided to boost the penalties imposed on operators that failed to comply with the market regulation.
A total of 12 financial penalty packages or regulatory settlements worth more than £30 million were issued by the UK gambling regulator in 2019/2020. The figure represents an increase of more than 50% from the amount of £19.6 million that was collected for the same transgressions from local gambling operators in 2018/2019.
Furthermore, the Gambling Commission suspended the operating licences of five gambling companies, revoked 11 licences and started the reviews of 49 personal management licence (PML) holders.
Neil McArthur, the Chief Executive Officer of the Gambling Commission, explained that the latest report published by the watchdog showed that the regulatory body was not afraid to take stricter measures against the operators that are offering their gambling services across the country. Apart from that, Mr McArthur also noted that the Commission remains focused on the individuals who take leadership roles in gambling companies and said that the regulator would continue to hold individuals in senior positions liable for any possible failure they knew or ought to have known, about.
UK Gambling Regulator Also Issues First National Strategic Assessment
The UK Government has just unveiled the implementation of a second pandemic lockdown that also applies to the gambling sector. In the light of this recent event, the boss of the major gambling regulatory body in the country reminded the holders of online gambling operating licences that the stricter measure that the UKGC issued to protect customers during the first lockdown apply over the second industry closure, too.
The Gambling Commission has previously expressed concern that some gambling operators might exploit the social isolation of their customers for marketing purposes, especially when it comes to so-called cross-selling digital gambling solutions to players who wager on both races and sports. the gambling regulatory body has already commenced a public consultation regarding customer affordability checks, which have also been among the major concerns of the watchdog.
Along with its latest Compliance and Enforcement Report, the UKGC also released its first National Strategic Assessment as part of its efforts to make gambling safer and fairer for everyone and to keep crime away from gambling. The report has provided information regarding the UK gambling sector and the role played by the UK Gambling Commission in the regulation of the sector.
As a matter of fact, the UKGC has not provided any particularly new information in the report that may have been considered part of the latest calls of some political groups insisting on a thorough overhaul of the gambling industry regulation and the regulatory body itself. Carolyn Harris MP has already shared that, in her opinion, the UKGC should not continue working in its current form and called for serious changes in the watchdog’s structure and powers.
- Author
Olivia Cole
