Overview of the UK Gambling Commission Safer Gambling Plan 2020/21

The UK Gambling Commission it seems is more committed than ever to ensuring the ongoing health and safety of the online gambling community. The regulator has been seen to take several decisive actions early in 2020 some which have been met with widespread approval, while others, like their imminent ban on credit card gambling, show little to no promise of a real impactful change in the marketplace.

Neil McArthur, Chief Executive of the Gambling Commission said:

“The volume and complexity of our work continues to grow.  However, we will continue to focus our resources on the areas that have maximum impact for the greatest number of consumers and will make sure we have the capacity and capability to keep pace with emerging issues and risks that regulating a complex industry requires.”

Love them or hate them there can be no doubt that the UKGC is determined to do what they feel is best despite resistance from operators or even players.

That being said here is an overview of their recently released Safer Gambling Plan for 2020 into 2021.

 The Safer Gambling Plan 2020

In the foreword to the Safer Gambling Business Plan McArthur highlights several key initiatives that the Commission will be assisting the government in undertaking. These are running the competition to select the new National Lottery licence holder as the current licence expires in 2023 and additional revisions to the country’s Gambling Act.

As per the plan’s title, their larger focus is on creating a safer gambling environment both online and physically, an objective they intend to tackle looking at the following 5 key areas:

✓Protecting Consumer Interests

• The plan aims to address such issues as High Roller and VIP enticements, product design and advertising mechanics through new regulations and advertising standards
• Participate in the ongoing review and revision of the Gambling Act of 2005

✓Prevention of Gambling Harm

• Create an Experts by Experience Board of those who have experienced the harms of gambling to guide decisions that impact the community
• Evaluate the successes and failures of current gambling harm campaigns
• Review and report on their measurements of gambling participation and prevalence

✓Raising Gambling Market Standards

• Raise the required standards for online gambling licence holders
• Create security protocols for securing betting integrity on local sporting events
• Launch industry events and programmes
• Establish an improved “test house assurance framework”
• Improve nationwide Money Laundering Regulations by implementing a Fifth

✓Increased Charitable Funding by Lotteries

• Require that operators fund more charitable causes
• Manage the application process for the fourth National Lottery Licence
• Review current lottery regulations and report on a way forward

✓Improved Gambling Sector Regulation

• Review the Gambling Commission fee structure and advise DCMS
• Clarify the Commissions stance on Corporate Governance
• Ensure all digital services function at required levels
• Improve the gambling operator licence application process

These programs and evaluations will continue to roll out throughout the year with a series of report and evaluations being promised.

Tracking & Addressing Areas of Risk

In order to determine current challenges to responsible gambling, highlighting triggers for at-risk players and further protecting minors they will be investigating the following:

1. Markers of harm
2. Customer interaction
3. Responsible product design
4. Single customer view
5. The use of advertising technology to minimise the exposure of children and vulnerable people to gambling-related advertising

The desired outcome from this investigation will be the Commission’s ability to help the industry understand, control and launch initiatives that can use their findings to protect those who are vulnerable to exploitation.