UK Gambling Commission introduces new standards for player safety

The United Kingdom Gambling Commission has released new regulations to further strengthen its position as the world’s leading online gambling jurisdiction.

The new standards will ensure all online gamblers in the UK have the same tools available to monitor their gambling activity, giving players better tools to support responsible gambling practices.

The regulations were identified as part of a review conducted earlier this year titled the Remote Gambling and Software Technical Standards (RTS) Consultation. The Consultation acknowledged revisions were needed to enhance customer protection, improve fairness and transparency of online gaming processes to customers, and ensure greater consistency and clarity to the information made available to consumers.

Under the Gambling Commission’s new requirements, all online gambling operators must:

• Give customers direct access to three months’ worth of their account and gambling activity information, plus access to at least 12 months of information upon request
• Ensure all account and gambling activity information is easy to understand and provides clear totals for a defined period of time
• Give customers access to their net deposits made within the casino
• Allow customers to set financial limits across their entire gambling account as well as individual games

Online gambling operators have until April 1st, 2018 to ensure these requirements have been implemented. The Commission hopes these regulations will help consumers to better make informed decisions about their online gambling activity.

Sharon McNair, programme director at the Gambling Commission said, “The findings of our recent consultation indicate that there are differences in approach amongst licensees in relation to the level of information available to their consumers and the ease by which that information is accessible. The new requirements seek to address this and ensure greater consistency in the information available to consumers regardless of who they choose to gamble with.

“Gambling operators must see beyond the bottom line, and ensure both new and existing gambling products are effectively managing the risks to the licensing objectives, keeping gambling safe and fair for all.”

The results of the RTS consultation have been used to update the Commission’s Remote Gambling and Software Technical standards, with additional requirements that must come into effect by 1st October 2017. These new requirements relate to live dealer gaming, peer-to-peer poker, use of third party software, virtual sports odds, progressive jackpot networks and information security standards.

The United Kingdom Gambling Commission has been working hard to solidify its stance as the world’s leading jurisdiction for online gambling. The UK is one of the only countries to legalise online gambling and provide a strict regulation framework to ensure players are protected, treated fairly and that the industry runs in line with local laws.

Along with the new regulations, the Commission recently introduced new licensing requirements to target “grey markets” and announced it would be taking action against a number of operators suspected of breaking consumer law.

The UK Gambling Commission has also teamed up with the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to provide a better framework for online gambling operators advertising welcome bonuses to new players. A report released by CMA revealed some operators were taking advantage of customers by purposely providing inadequate or unclear information about the wagering requirements and conditions attached to bonus offers.

For more information about how the UKGB is regulating the online gambling industry and protecting players, you can download and read the full Remote Gambling and Software Technical standards guide.