UKGC Declares Concerns Regarding Digital Gambling Mediums
Published on by Becky M.
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has released a report of their perspective on a variety of gambling mediums that are becoming more prevalent as part of the digital age. The document, which was published last week, is an examination of virtual currencies, eSports and social gaming. The main areas of concern for UKGC are adherence to the law regarding gambling, and the protection of the best interests of consumers of gambling products.
Concerns
The UKGC report is a response to a variety of concerns surrounding virtual currencies, eSports and social gaming. The first issue is in relation to social gaming, which is considered by the Commission to be indistinct from gambling. The second issue is regarding digital currencies, and how they are impacting the gambling landscape. The third basis for the preparation of this report is the increasing provision for gambling on eSports, and how that is monitored and regulated.Neil McArthur acts as General Counsel for the Gambling Commission, and says that their ‘key concern is to ensure that consumers are protected and that children or other vulnerable people are not harmed or exploited by gambling’. The document that has just been published highlights ‘real issues for regulation, player protection, and the protection of children and young people’.
Virtual Currencies
McArthur says ‘We are concerned about virtual currencies and ‘in game’ items which can be used to gamble’. He says that the UKGC is worried that players may not realise that they are participating in wagering, or that they may feel in some way obliged to place a bet as part of their leisure activities. He has advised that any organisation which provides the option to gamble within the United Kingdom must by licensed in accordance with British law.McArthur considers eSports to be a potentially risky area, especially in terms of who is accessing these games. He says that there is ‘a significant risk that children and young people may try to bet on such events given the popularity of eSports with those who are too young to gamble’.