The BGC Unveils Tighter Player Protection Regulations in the Wake of COVID-19

The United Kingdom BGC (Betting and Gaming Council) has just declared a new set of safety measures aimed at fostering a much safer gambling environment during this coronavirus pandemic period. This is yet another effort by the BGC to set high standards for both players and operators across all online betting platforms, betting shops, casinos and any other gaming businesses.

Sure enough, the volume of gambling activities has taken a dramatic dive since the closure of brick and mortar casinos and the indefinite postponement of sports competitions. However, while casino doors remain locked, online betting platforms are quickly becoming the go-to gambling destinations for millions of players under lock-down at home. It is also worth noting that the alarming number of furloughed employees thanks to the COVID-19 closures increases their vulnerability to internet-based gambling.

As such, this new action plan by the BGC consists of 10 clear-cut pledges that push for intensified monitoring of gaming operations now that more people will be accessing gambling services remotely from their homes. The new measures are also meant to tackle the unusual situation of social distancing because players are no longer advised to flock into a betting kiosk or casino to place a wager or two.

BGC’s 10 New Commandments

The new pledges from the BGC show their undying resolve to make sure that highest standards are put into practice and that players are well-protected from the harms of problem gambling. They cover the following key subjects;

1. Strongly promoting deposit limits
2. Intensify safer gambling messages throughout all websites
3. Stepping up intervention measures in case customers increase their gambling time and expenditure beyond their normal patterns before the COVID-19 pandemic
4. Report all illegal and unscrupulous advertising from black market online gaming operators
5. Increased efforts to make sure there is ethical and responsible advertising, complete with the regulation of the volume of ads as well
6. Enforce a tougher one-strike policy for affiliates that go against these pledges
7. More GamCare, GamStop and National Gambling Helpline posters to foster self-exclusion options and professional gambling addiction assistance 
8. Welfare checks to ensure the well-being of the employees
9. Assisting the Government’s effort with facilities and volunteers.
10. More obligation to disburse funds for RET (Research and Education and Treatment)

What’s the Gaming Community’s Take on the New Guidelines?

The BGC’s announcement has received a warm welcome across the gaming community in this critical time. GVC Holdings, one of the most dominant gambling corporations across the globe, showed solidarity upon receiving the news. The company (GVC) even went ahead to announce further improvements to its responsible gambling measures to ensure that all their products can also be enjoyed safely and do not lead customers to spend beyond their financial capabilities.

A few of the GVC’s measures include vigorous communication with all their players to lead them to safer gambling tools and intensified responsible gambling notifications on the homepages of all its sites. Kenny Alexander, The CEO of GVC, also added that the company’s enhanced tools offer players the ability to manage their gambling habits effectively by carefully monitoring their expenditures.

GVC is the parent company of some of the most celebrated gambling brands such as Ladbrokes Coral, Bwin, PartyCasino, PartyPoker, FoxyCasino and FoxyBingo among many others.