APPG Rebukes UKGC For Failing To Deliver On Core Objectives

The UK Gambling Commission has come under fire from the gambling industry-focused All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for failing in its core purpose. This heavy-handed slap was delivered in response to the National Audit Office (NAO) reporting that Commission is not capable of fulfilling its duty to protect players from harm while also promoting a stable and profitable gambling industry.

 Dropping Balls Left & Right

The criticisms levelled at the UKGC by the NAO include a lack of measurable or trackable progression, insufficient data to make intelligent policy decisions and policy-makers who are not equipped to take swift and effective action in a very dynamic industry.

“The Commission has translated its statutory objectives and overall aim to make gambling safer into strategic priorities, business plan activities and high‐level outcomes it wants to achieve. However, it has not yet developed these high‐level outcomes into detailed, measurable success criteria against which to judge progress.”

In particular, the report points out that the percentage of players affected by compulsive or addictive gambling behaviour is relatively unchanged since 2012 despite the various campaigns and funding raising activities the Commission has spearheaded.

Further damning evidence of the Commissions ineffectiveness is the fact that while it requires data from casinos in order to track player concerns and use this to drive policy decisions more than 70 of the 119 casinos in the system have not provided any such data in the last 3 years. Without any retribution or follow up from the UKGC.

 “Well Actually,” Said The Commission

Rather than taking the NAO report in the same light as the APPG, the Commission claims that it shines a light on their accomplishments in a difficult market and should be the starting point for further conversation around what they need to be “even more” effective.

A Commission spokesperson is reported as saying:

“We have made progress in making gambling safer, but more needs to be done. In addition to a programme of tougher enforcement and compliance activity, in the last two years, we have strengthened protections including online age and ID verification, customer interaction and most recently we banned gambling on credit cards.”

In a comment that is at best stating the obvious, they added:

“We must see a reduction in the number of people experiencing harm and we are currently pushing the industry to focus on poor VIP practices, advertising technology and game design.”

Far from a rebuttal filled with data and reports of lives impacted for the good by their work, all the Commission could point out were the handful of rules and regulations they have implemented and how much money they can raise.

 Just Good Is Not Good Enough

The vapid response by UK Gambling Commission seems to support not deny the APPG’s interpretation of the NAO report. The Commission’s decision to flaunt a list of actions rather than the results of their actions seems to indicate a lack of measurable, impactful results, as feared.

No one can deny the UKGC keeps busy, however, the industry and the players weighed down by problem gambling need whoever holds their position to know when and how to take action that will change lives and protect at risk gamblers.