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UK Gambling Commission Announces New Licensing Processes
By Jeff Osienya Jun 28, 2022 IndustryUK’s gambling industry watchdog has introduced some changes to its licensing processes, moving away from issuing operators a single point of contact. Licensing now comprises four sub-categories that will streamline the process and cut down on costs.The United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) has announced a few changes in the licensing application process for operators looking to serve in the jurisdiction. Based on the statement published on the gaming ombudsman’s official website, the current model where a dedicated account manager is assigned to each operator will cease to exist. From what the Commission has discovered, this model is not efficient enough, a discrepancy that officials are now looking to solve with the latest changes.
Out With the Old, In With the New!
Assigning every gambling operator in the UK gaming sector to a dedicated account manager had become increasingly complex and inefficient given the increasing demand in the booming industry. So, in place of the previous approach, the industry watchdog has now shifted to a more expansive spectrum of awarding licenses to deal with the growing pool of gambling operators.
Henceforth, there will be four sub-groups in the new licensing procedure, each dedicated to handling different stages and forms of licensing as follows:
- Operating License New Group: tasked with processing new operator license applications.
- Change of Corporate Control Group: responsible for handling applications that entail a change in ownership and the control of current gambling operators.
- Operating License Vary Group: this sub-group will be responsible for processing applications regarding changes in ongoing licenses of operation.
- Personal License Sub-Group: in charge of the processing of all personal license applications
As explained by the UKGC, this shift is primarily a move to regulate the use of its resources and streamline the application process to make it much faster than it previously was. Additionally, the Commission also believes that the query resolution process will be more efficient and effective due to migrating to this new four-tier model.
While there are a handful of changes in place for the broader licensing procedures, the expectation is that not much will change with the application process. As has been the case, companies that offer online services will still be required to process their applications via the usual internet portals. Meanwhile, those that do not offer online services will still be able to apply by messaging the official UKGC email. The only minor change to the application process may be the fact that the Commission will no longer accept applications via post.
The Greater Landscape for British Gambling
There is an air of change in the British gambling scene. The latest changes to the licensing processes represent a broader shift in operations in UK Gambling. For instance, after the recent confirmation of new UKGC CEO Andrew Rhodes to a permanent role, Chairman Boyle and the CEO have been pushing for stricter regulations for operators.
Some of the sterner regulations proposed by the two senior-most figures in Britain’s gambling sector include introducing new cumulative sanction packages that carry more dire financial implications for rogue operators. There are also plans for implementing a best practice study by the UKGC. This study aims to take greater responsibility for high-risk gambling in the UK to make the booming industry much safer for all participants.
With the same undertones of change in the UK gambling scene, there have been proposals to have in place an independent audit standards unit for operators. This move has been driven by the UKGC leadership in their pursuit of greater compliance with regulations by the operators. All these transformations, coupled with advancements in UKGC technology, will go a long way towards combating the ills that soil the region’s gaming sector like problem gambling, money laundering, and so much more.
The UK Gambling Act Review is Imminent
All these changes in the UK gambling scene point to one conversation that has filled the airwaves for some time now – a growing demand for revamping industry regulations to keep up with the rapidly changing times. The pinnacle of these changes will be the UK Gambling Act review, a process that’s been brewing since December 2020 and is nearing conclusion.
The UK Gambling Act review white paper is scheduled to go live in a matter of weeks, although there has been no officially confirmed date of release by the Department for Digital Culture Media and Sports (DCMS). The alleged indecisiveness of the DCMS is rumored to be the reason for repeated delays in the white paper’s release. However, the Department insists it is exercising caution and a steady pace for the greater good of proceedings.
With the white paper’s release imminent, it is thought that the document is circulating among many government departments for further scrutiny before it’s released to the public. And while there have been talks of expectations flying around, what was clear from the beginning is that regulations in the UK Gambling sector are about to get tighter. Here’s to hoping that the process of overhauling industry policies won’t turn the region into an unconducive nanny state for gambling fans and operators.
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