New UKGC Laws Set to Make Online Gambling Safer and Fairer for All

The UK Gambling Commission, or UKGC, is one of the heaviest hitters in the world of online casino regulations. 

In order to create a safe and fair gambling experience for players within their jurisdiction, the UKGC has set new laws into place.  

Over the last few weeks, the UKGC has been hard at work. From fining Ladbrokes Coral for failing to protect players, to possibly banning credit cards as a form of casino depositing. The online casino world is constantly on edge, reshuffling and making changes based on what the UK Gambling Commission has to say. 

 Upcoming New Laws 

A new set of laws have been put into place that will aim to make online casinos a safer place for those who may be at risk. The UKGC also hopes that these new laws will make online gambling fairer too. 

The new laws will come into effect between the 31st of October 2019 and the 1st of January 2020. 

Commission Executive Director, Paul Hope, commented on the upcoming changes, saying: “These changes have been designed to make gambling fairer and safer for consumers and we expect gambling firms to meet their responsibilities in these areas.” 

 Customer Interaction 

The UKGC has insisted that online casinos and gambling companies have more of a hands-on way of dealing with customers. Especially customers that could be suffering from a gambling addiction. 

The new laws will help companies focus on identifying with customers who are potentially at risk. 

Another important factor is for companies to identify how these interactions actually make a difference to customers, if at all. 

 Research, Prevention, and Treatment 

Gambling companies have always had the opportunity to voluntarily donate funds to the research, prevention, and treatment of gambling harm. 

The UKGC will be pushing providers to make the most of this responsibility. It will also provide more transparency as to how much is contributed by different companies. 

 Alternative Resolution Providers (ADR) 

Changes are being made to which ADR providers may be used by online casinos. ADR providers are used to deal with any issues that may arise between players and gambling companies. 

These providers are required to make sure that any issues can be handled without litigation. 

The new laws set in place by the UKGC will require that only approved ADR providers are used when necessary. It also provides additional standards that will make the role of an ADR provider clearer and help improve the overall experience. 

One of the most important factors is that players should have assurance that ADR providers are completely independent.