UKGC Announce New Rules to Identify Risk to Players
The United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) has issued a string of new measures to ensure online operators carry out more in-depth practices to identify harmful or at-risk gambling.
As of the 12th of September, 2022 operators will be required to:
- A specific range of indicators are to be monitored to identify gambling harm
- If an indicator of harm is flagged immediate action must be taken
- More robust automated processes were implemented to flag up indicators of harm
- Make sure operators interact immediately at a level of problem gambling for the relevant activity
- Report evidence of customer interaction to the UKGC as part of routine casework
- All of the above must be complied with at all times, including ensuring third-party providers carry out the same level of commitment
The new guidance will be issued to operators in June ahead of the September date to ensure they understand all requirements. The UKGC will engage with operators if they have any queries or questions.
Andrew Rhodes the UKGC Chief Executive said, “Time and time again our enforcement cases show that some operators are still not doing enough to prevent gambling harm. The new rules developed following an extensive consultation, make our expectations even more explicit.
“We expect operators to identify and tackle gambling harms with fast, proportionate, and effective action and we will not hesitate to take tough action on operators who fail to do so.”
Tougher Measures
The UKGC strengthened its recommendations to online operators after failures are still being reported. Although many operators were actively identifying problem gamblers or gamblers who may pose a risk of gambling-related harm, this was not acted upon quickly enough.
The next steps proposed by the Gambling Commission are to identify financially vulnerable customers and tackle customers who cannot afford to gamble. Once the next phase of the consultation launches, operators will be updated on the changes.
