Author: Daniel Williams

The UK Charity Commission has brought the regulatory action against the Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust (YGAM) to an end after it found no reason for further investigation. The regulatory body had responded to a complaint that challenged the relationship between YGAM and the trade body representing the gambling industry in the country, the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC). The Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust replied to the complaint by sharing that its close relationship with the gambling industry standards and trade body were necessary to make sure…

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has announced further data about the impact that the evolving coronavirus lockdown measures have had on British customers’ gambling behaviour. As the regulatory body revealed, the operator data reflects the period from March 2020 to May 2021 and covers both retail (where relevant) and online gambling operator data. The UKGC further noted that the data has taken into account the fact that land-based premises have been allowed to open only recently since the closures that took place in December 2020. The regulator also explained that…

The Irish Prime Minister has suggested that an all-party legislature (Oireachtas) committee could take into consideration ways of implementing stricter regulations to the gambling industry. Taoiseach Micheál Martin further noted that the country’s Government will examine a Labour Bill that seeks to suspend gambling advertising. Mr Martin described problem gambling as a “terrible illness” that has a detrimental impact on individuals and their families. The scrutiny on the gambling sector is also set to include the introduction of a special gambling regulatory body. The news about the possible implementation of…

British residents over the age of 60 seem to be turning to their mobile devices and gaming controllers to escape reality, new research initiated by energyhelpline.com says. Gambling is getting more popular among elderly people who are willing to improve their mental health and tackle loneliness. The older punters in the UK now seem to be spending an average of eight hours gaming per week, which is just 45 minutes a week less than the time spent by the nation’s youngest gamblers in the age range from 16 to 29…

Recently, the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins has said there are serious matters to be considered when it comes to sports betting advertising at a time when the country regulators have started a gambling sector overhaul. The statement was issued after earlier in July the Irish President appeared at a 34-unit gambling rehabilitation centre, which is hosted in Wicklow and run by the Tiglin charity organisation. At the time, he also discussed some gambling-related matters and criticised the large number of gambling adverts aired on television. At first, his…

A Scottish academic, who has called for the UK Government to make a gambling reform is now supporting a stricter regime to be imposed on video games that lure young people into spending money on so-called loot boxes. The social scientist at Glasgow University, Dr Heather Wardle, has said that, in her opinion, loot boxes should be age-restricted for individuals under the age of 18, after a study she had held suggested that children and teenagers feel controlled by game developers who only encourage them to spend money through buying…

The UK gambling regulator has suspended the operating licences of a couple of gambling companies for alleged violations. On July 7th, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) announced its decision to suspend the operating permit of Martin Henry Bailey as the company is experiencing a regulatory review under s116 of the Gambling Act of 2005. The probe follows concerns that the company’s activities may have been carried out in violation of the gambling laws. Furthermore, the country’s gambling watchdog also said that the operator may not have offered its services in…

A new study has found that, in most cases, voluntary gambling harm-reduction tools just do not work, as people do not use them. Although such gambling harm minimisation tools are aimed at providing people with the chance to set deposit limits or exclude themselves from services that could result in problem gambling behaviour. The research has been held among 40,000 Australian gamblers by the University of Sydney’s Gambling Treatment and Research Clinic (GTRC). It found that the decision of the Government to establish a self-exclusion policy had greatly affected online…

The new Chief Executive Officer of the struggling Australian gambling giant Crown Resorts has defended the company’s efforts to bring changes to its operations and structure after facing the NSW Commissioner’s damning report. During the Victoria state inquiry hearing that took place earlier today, Steve McCann shared that he was concerned about many things before taking over his new position at the company in June. He was appointed as the CEO of the struggling casino operator after the regulator announced its findings of Crown Resorts’ links to criminal organisations and…

The gambling industry trade body – the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) – has urged the UK Government to establish the figure of a Gambling Ombudsman to address consumer concerns. The BGC, which represents both the retail and the online gambling operators, has proposed that there should be a legal requirement for all gaming and betting companies that operate under a UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) licence to sign up to the new body. A number of campaigners and interest groups have insisted on the establishment of a gambling ombudsman for…