The UK Gambling Commission just recently unveiled a new set of rules that online gambling operators are meant to abide by beginning May 7, but, as it turns out, that was just the beginning. Now, the commission is calling on all industry stakeholders, consumers, members of the public and online gaming operators to participate in its latest consultation as it looks for more knowledge, information, and advice on various aspects of the gambling ecosystem. In addition to having all these parties voice their opinions on the proposed LCCP changes, the commission will also require the participants of provide their own personal views on a new gambling blocking software that will go a long way in furthering its mandate to make “Britain’s gambling industry the fairest and safest in the world”.
Three specific disciplines will be the core focus of the gambling commission ‘s research agenda in 2019 and they include:
Gambling Software Blockers – The commission seeks initial insight and evidence on the development and subsequent introduction of ‘free-to-access’ gaming blocking software for consumers in the United Kingdom. These are meant to further tighten up and improve the protection of both minors and problem gamblers, the two groups that are most vulnerable to risks of gambling-related harm.
Alternative Dispute Resolution Schemes – These will primarily be in response to the several complaints that are often filed by consumers with the gaming regulator as well as related organizations. Unfortunately, most of these complaints and disputes usually take too long to be resolved or are forgotten altogether. Through the consultation, the UKGC hopes to find a viable solution and possibly a few pointers on the development of an effective scheme.
Safeguarding Customer Interactions – This particular agenda aligns with the recent unveiling of a new set of rules and principles by the gaming commission only this time it will involve the interaction between gambling business and how that interaction may be used to help UK residents who are at susceptible to gambling-related harm.
By now it is pretty obvious that the organization’s biggest concern is underage gambling which has been on the rise. It is even more worrying for the commission that there are still avenues outside their control (mostly illegal and backdoor ones) that offer gambling services to the growing number of underage gamblers across the country.
“Protecting children from the harms that can come from gambling remains one of our highest priorities. In the areas we have regulatory control, we continue to strengthen the protections in place to prevent underage gambling, such as our recent proposals for enhanced age verification checks for online gambling,” Tim Miller, the Executive Director at the Gambling Commission, said.
As such, the commission is calling for as many as possible to participate in the consultation which is intended to further accelerate progress in consumer protection not just for consumers but even for minors and problem gamblers.
