Sky Vegas Offered Free Spins During Safer Gambling Week to Customers who had Self-Excluded
The United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) is investigating complaints emerging last week where customers of Sky Vegas who have self-excluded were offered free spins during Safer Gambling Week.
Safer Gambling Week
Safer Gambling Week is an annual gambling awareness campaign running from the 1st to the 7th of November. It aims to promote the importance of gambling safely and provides information on gambling safety across online and land-based casinos, bingo portals, and betting outlets.
Despite Sky Vegas company Flutter Entertainment boasting of its safer gambling tools and gambling safety measures, Sky Vegas emailed customers last Tuesday with the line, “Take a peek at what your mystery bonus is”. “Here at Sky Vegas we love the unexpected, simply opt-in, spend £5 and claim your free 100 spins. The best part? Whatever you win is yours to keep – that’s the fun in fair.”
The UK Gambling Commission along with the UK government is in the final stages of reforming the gambling industry regulations, including a clampdown on advertising and marketing.
Self-Excluded Customers Targeted
The self-exclusion tool is used by customers who feel their gambling habits are out of control and need a ‘break’ from gambling. The messages were sent to recovering addicts who have self-excluded and opted out of all direct marketing.
During the height of the pandemic, a surge in online gambling saw a rise of 25%, and 218,000 people voluntarily signed up with Gamstop. Operators offering gambling products must abide by strict licensing regulations including the removal of self-excluded customers from any form of marketing, Sky Betting has breached the terms of the license in this case.
Flutter who also owns Paddy Power and Betfair, said last week their financial situation had taken a knock after tightening up on safer gambling controls.
Disappointed
Customers who have taken advantage of the safer gambling tools are disappointed the email reached their inbox, it was an open invitation to take advantage of bonuses, despite the fact the self-exclusion time limit is still in place. One customer thought his self-exclusion period had expired after receiving the email and tried to reset his password.
He went on to say they should not be targeting customers who have self-excluded due to a related gambling problem, especially during Safer Gambling Week, calling it perverse!
Sky Betting and Gaming commented, “We sincerely apologise to those who have mistakenly received Sky Vegas promotional communications and for the distress, this may have caused some recipients.
“We are treating this matter extremely seriously and are thoroughly investigating how this happened as a matter of urgency.”
Meanwhile, the UKGC will continue their investigations after many complaints from members of the public requesting why Sky Vegas sent the promotional material to self-excluded customers.
