-
Casinos for you
UKGC Suspends Sportito and Dynamic Licenses for not Integrating GAMSTOP
By Jeff Osienya Apr 05, 2020 IndustryThe United Kingdom Gambling Commission put the operating licenses of Sportito and Dynamic on hold after they ignored an order to have the GAMSTOP self-exclusion program on their betting sites by 31st March.The UK Gambling Commission continues to crack the whip on gaming operators to ensure that all its player protection regulations are followed to the letter. Sportito and Dynamic are the most recent culprits of the long arm of UKGC's law after they were suspended on the grounds of not integrating GAMSTOP, the self-exclusion program on their gaming platforms.
Sportito is a fantasy sports operator while Dynamic currently trades under the umbrella of Prophet, a brand that prides itself in offering secondary sports betting services.
The suspension took effect on Friday after the watchdog found that the said operators violated a January directive where operators were instructed to have integrated GAMSTOP into their gaming products by 31st March.
Both Sportito and Dynamic came under fire even though Sportito's suspension has been lifted after a later integration. Despite Sportito's late compliance, both operators are still under UKGC's microscope to determine whether they are fit to continue operating as approved online gaming operators in the United Kingdom.
The Importance of Self Exclusion in Gambling
After announcing the suspension of the two operators, the Commission's chief, Neil McArthur reiterated his resolve to use whatever force necessary against operators who do not take the safety of gamblers seriously. He also reminded operators of the importance of self-exclusion since it is the only surefire way that vulnerable players can stay protected.
It has been two years since the launch of GAMSTOP, and since then more than 130,000 gamblers have used the program, where about 70% opted for a 5-year restriction on their gambling. Additionally, from UKGC's numbers, over 40% of GAMESTOP end users fall between 25 and 34 years old, which is the demographic that has for long been the most susceptible to problem gambling.
In support of UKGC's recent crackdown on non-compliant operators, Fiona Palmer, GAMSTOP's chief also released a statement last Wednesday. She urged vulnerable gamblers to take advantage of the organization's self-exclusion tools which come at no cost so that they can take control and relinquish their access to gaming sites licensed in the UK for anywhere between 6 months and 5 years.
Tough Times for Non-Compliant UK Operators
The UKGC has been landing on UK-licensed operators like a ton of bricks for any kind of misconducts, especially when it comes to player protection. Before the suspension of Dynamic and Sportito, Stakers had also faced the wrath of the Commission less than a month ago in 4th March after breaching a handful of regulations.
Stakers is still under review to date, and until the regulator is satisfied, the betting company can no longer conduct any gambling activities through its website in the UK. The UKGC even went as far as advising players to cash out their balances and discouraged anyone from signing up or depositing funds into their Stakers.com accounts.
You might also like