BGO reaches agreement with CMA 

The UK Government’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has reached agreement with BGO Entertainment Ltd (BGO) following an investigation focused on consumer protection, in collaboration with the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), into the operator’s terms on bonus promotions.

According to the CMA, BGO has provided formal commitments to change the way it offers bonus promotions to customers in which it will make terms and conditions of its bonus promotions clear and will prominently flag any significant restrictions to players.

In addition, the operator has committed to doing away with terms which:

Require players to play multiple times before allowing them to withdraw their own money.

Prevent them from withdrawing their full balance by minimum withdrawal limits.

Could oblige players to take part in publicity.

Could be used to unfairly change promotions after players have opted in.

The announcement follows similar agreements with Ladbrokes, William Hill, and PT Entertainment (see previous reports).

“Gambling firms should not have terms that could be used to catch players out by unfairly changing their promotions after a customer has opted in,” George Lusty, CMA Senior Director for Consumer Protection, said.

“We are therefore pleased that BGO has pledged to make these important changes. Following the CMA’s action, the gambling industry is rightly taking steps to overhaul online terms and conditions that could be misleading or unfair.”

Lusty noted that before entering into these commitments with the CMA, BGO had already made changes to address some of the CMA’s concerns – such as removing restrictions on winnings from cash deposits.

The CMA has produced a ‘60-second summary’ to assist gambling operators in reviewing their practices and ensuring their terms and conditions are in line with consumer protection law.

It has also produced ‘advice for gamblers’ and a short video guide for consumers.

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