UKGC confirms more online gambling restrictions on the way

The UK Gambling Commission has published additional proposals geared at a “safer and fairer” environment for consumers.

Proposed changes include:

Wider reaching child protections with operators banned from providing free-to-play demo games until a consumer’s age has been determined.

Improving the speed and effectiveness of age verification processes.

Operators will be required to set limits on consumers’ spending until affordability checks have been conducted.

Further action on tackling unacceptable marketing and advertising and unfair terms, while improving complaints and disputes procedures.

Strengthening requirements to interact with consumers who may be experiencing, or are at risk of developing, problems with their gambling.

Neil McArthur, Gambling Commission Chief Executive, said: “Britain has the largest regulated online gambling market in the world and we are continually looking for ways to make it even fairer and safer for consumers.

“The proposals we have announced today are intended to protect children better, reduce the risks to vulnerable consumers and build on the measures we already impose on operators to know their customers and intervene at an earlier stage before consumers experience harm.”

In addition, five areas in which the Commission will undertake further work during the year have been identified:

Assessing the effectiveness of the current tools available to consumers to manage their gambling.

Reviewing gambling product characteristics to identify whether particular features pose greater risk of harm than others.

Reviewing requirements on the protection of customer funds and consider whether there are sufficient protections around dormant accounts.

Considering whether gambling on credit should continue to be permitted.

Considering whether there is a need to make amendments that will enable consumers to withdraw funds more easily.

Tracey Crouch Minister for Sport and Civil Society said: “We are committed to ensuring the gambling industry is safe and sustainable. These proposals for additional regulations will strengthen the controls already in place and further safeguard children and vulnerable people from the risks of online gambling.”

The Commission reminded operators of the coming into force of amended remote gambling and software technical standards on April 1, 2018, while also inviting stakeholders to register their interest in attending the next remote sector meeting scheduled for May 18, 2018.

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