The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has published a further ‘market update’ tracking how COVID-19 has impacted gambling behaviours and participation across the UK. Since March, the Commission has gathered data from licensed betting operators (retail and online) representing 80% of the UK gambling’s regulated marketplace. The UKGC has maintained that its market updates reflect how ‘gambling behaviours evolve as the …
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David Clifton, Licensing Expert: Tight deadline to comply with new High Value Customer requirements
Let’s start with some context… It is more than six years now since the Gambling Commission flagged up concerns about the insulation of high-value “VIP customers” from the social responsibility obligations and practices applying elsewhere in gambling operators’ businesses. This was accompanied by a series of regulatory failings where operators had appeared reluctant to interact with commercially valuable customers on …
Read More »Neil McArthur: Finance industry has a key role to play in player protection
Neil McArthur, the chief executive of the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), has urged the UK finance industry to join a ‘multi-sector collaborative approach’ to tackle gambling-related harms, stating that ‘there is always more that can be done’ to protect vulnerable customers. Building on the previous efforts to ban gambling with credit cards, the UKGC CEO addressed the ‘important role’ that …
Read More »SAZKA moves full steam ahead on National Lottery tender
Czech gambling conglomerate SAZKA Group has officially confirmed that it has entered the UK Gambling Commission’s (UKGC) competition for the 4th licence to operate the National Lottery. Since the UKGC published its competition timetable at the start of the year, SAZKA has long been viewed as a ‘National Lottery suitor’ seeking to win the multi £ billion operating contract from …
Read More »UKGC plans to ‘stamp out’ VIP malpractice with new guidelines
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has released new strict guidance for licence holders which will aim to stamp out malpractice in the management of ‘VIP’ customers. Stamping out the ‘irresponsible incentivisation of high value customers’ has become a key area for change, according to the UKGC, after the regulator reported failings in customer protection. Furthemore, The House of Lords select …
Read More »UKGC creates social media advertising guidance via Facebook link-up
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has broadened its reach to social media users after partnering with Facebook to create guidance aimed at limiting the number of gambling-related adverts that users see. The guidance will aim to mitigate the risk associated with gambling-related messaging and advertisements on social media. It will offer information on how users can utilise Facebook’s safety tools …
Read More »UKGC calls for final input on slot design
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) will close its public consultation on online slot design and in-game features today (3 September), concluding its gathering of opinions and insights on how to safeguard slot development and making games safer for the general public. This story featured in today’s SBC News 90. To view the latest round-up, watch today’s edition here. Marked as …
Read More »UKGC launches fourth National Lottery licence competition
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has this morning formally launched its competition to award the ‘fourth National Lottery operating licence‘. The current (third) GBP multi-billion contract serviced by Camelot Group will expire in 2023, as the UKGC and its advisory panel open its new concession to competitor proposals. Launching its competition, the UKGC underlined that it will award its licence …
Read More »UKGC reviews VIP interaction with new consultation
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has launched a consultation which will review the rules and procedures that are in place for licensed gambling operators when engaging with high-value customers (HVC) and VIP players. In launching the review, the Commission said it recognised the exceptional commercial value that VIP customers hold for licensees and the ‘preferential service’ high-value customers receive from …
Read More »Lords call for ban on sponsorship in wide ranging gambling report
A Lords report into gambling regulation has called for ‘urgent action’ to address harms caused by gambling. House of Lords Gambling Select Committee’s report ‘Gambling Harm – Time for Action‘ has taken over a year to compile and the results do not make pretty reading for the industry, the regulator and the government. On its launch, Committee Chair Lord Grade …
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