Just recently, the UK Gambling Commission called for advice from various industry stakeholders as part of its bid to advance its consumer protection agenda. The commission has reportedly received lots of feedback and is currently reviewing them. One of the proposals that have been welcomed is from the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board (RGSB). According to the board, a compulsory levy should be introduced for gaming operators and gaming advertising should be treated in the same way that tobacco and alcohol are.
If approved the proposed changes will be part of the UK Gambling Commission’s new National Strategy which is expected to be published in April and will outline the commission’s plans. These plans are primarily aimed at enhancing and improving the regulator’s consumer protection efforts which will, in turn, result in a safer gambling environment. This will reportedly kick off this year and will be actively pursued until 2022.
The UK’s gambling market has been growing at a rapid rate and therefore regulatory measures have been met with a vast range of challenges that need to be addressed as soon as possible and in the best possible manner. The recommendations that were put forward by the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board mostly constituted of some things that are perceived to be top priorities when it comes to reducing gambling-related harm in the United Kingdom. They also included arrangements that would assist in the proper and effective implementation of the new strategies.
The Recommendations
RGSB’s proposal to have gambling advertising treated the same way as tobacco and alcohol is mainly geared towards the implementation of appropriate control and the application of related precautionary principles perhaps because all of them are addictive. The compulsory levy, on the other hand, is meant to replace the existing voluntary participation in gambling rehabilitation with the goal being to fund prevention, treatment as well as more research. The board also proposed the establishment of a robust and transparent structure for the distribution of the funds that would be raised from the collection of the compulsory levy.
In addition to the aforementioned recommendations, the SGRB also advised the UK Gambling Commission to ensure that the health departments are made responsible for the provision and quality assurance of gambling-related treatments instead of having that responsibility delegated to charities funded by voluntary donations. In essence, the board wants problem gambling to be addressed just like any other public health issue.
Moreover, the board wants a coherent framework of prevention initiatives to be established to ensure that more focus is given to those at higher risk of gambling-related harm.
