SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) maintains its schedule for 2023, announcing that it will launch its first consultations on the implementation of the Gambling Act reforms this July.
Tim Miller, the UKGC’s Executive Director on policy development, made the announcement writing a blog post on the Commission’s website.
Miller confirmed that the Commission had completed its first deliverable providing its ‘reinforced expectations’ in relation to White Label businesses, as announced in May.
The guidance on White Label management will be followed by the Commission publishing new content on its approach to customer vulnerability and improved evidence and data for gambling in Great Britain.
“We have made further progress towards these aims with the publication of updates on our work to improve our Participation and Prevalence Statistics and the publication of our three-year Evidence Gaps and Priorities review,” Miller noted.
This July, the Commission anticipates publishing four consultations related to the Gambling Act Review on age verification, remote games design, direct marketing and cross-selling, and financial risk and vulnerability checks.
In addition, the Commission will publish two unrelated consultations on rules related to Personal Management Licences and procedures of Regulatory Panels.
Examining significant reforms, the Commission expects its first round of consultations to last 12 weeks, with the assignment expected to close in October.
In the Autumn, a second tranche of Gambling Act Review consultations will be opened before the end of the year, including topics on Socially Responsible Inducements and Gambling Management Tools.
The Commission is steadfast in working alongside the Government in implementing the reforms of the Gambling Review, in which its role includes advising the Government on legislative changes and monitoring the progress of the industry.
Miller explained, “We continue to support our sponsoring Department, DCMS with their vital work. The Commission has a key role in advising Government on amending aspects of the legislation and on implementation of these changes. It is important that we are clear on roles and responsibilities.”
As such, the Commission maintains the responsibility for administering a future statutory levy to fund problem gambling research, education and treatment (RET) programmes.
However, once the levy system is imposed, Miller noted that “it is likely that the Commission’s LCCP RET list will no longer be relevant or needed. We will also need to consider the impact of a levy system on the destination of any future regulatory settlements.”
The update acknowledged that the full implementation of the Review will take several years, and the Commission aims to evaluate the impact of the changes during this period.
Irrespective of challenges, the Commission stands by its day-to-day work of ensuring compliance with their rules and protecting consumers. This will continue alongside the implementation of the Review.
