Operators Call for Collaborative Approach and Innovative Technologies

By John Isaac,
Editor at online-gambling.com

John Isaac Editor at online-gambling.com

John Isaac is an editor with many years of experience in the gambling industry. He writes expert articles on card games like blackjack and poker. In addition, he is also well aware of the US gambling laws and the Indian and Dutch gambling markets. You can rely on verified information and insightful details.

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Last updated: April 3, 2023

Gaming companies that responded to the UK’s Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) request for an opinion are criticizing the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). Several operators believe that the UKGC needs to significantly improve to function as a viable regulator. As the UK’s gambling white paper is still being worked on, the DCMS committee reached out to operators like Bet365 and Flutter to get feedback. After numerous delays, the white paper is anticipated to be released in May.

According to Flutter, the regulator does not consult with operators to provide feedback on what they say. Instead, it keeps quiet until it’s prepared to impose the most recent penalties. Flutter also voiced worries about the regulator’s capacity to effectively regulate the sector. It claimed that operators’ use of technology to conduct business has been gravely and continuously “underestimated” by the UKGC. Flutter thinks the UKGC needs more input from knowledgeable industry insiders to assist it in overcoming that obstacle.

Affordability Checks May Push Players to Illicit Market

Bally’s Corp concurred with Flutter and said that while introducing new standards, the commission does not consider innovative technology that addresses existing regulations. Entain added to the discussion by saying that the UKGC ought to approach operators in a “cooperative rather than combative” manner.

The gambling industry is looking forward to more changes, and affordability checks are still a big deal. Before letting a player gamble, operators must find out how much money the player makes and how much money they spend. There is an industry-wide consensus that these checks boost gambling on the illicit market. In preparation for the required spending limitations, some operators, like Bet365, have started implementing changes. Without guidance, policy implementation is challenging.

Entain cited a study indicating that if the UK enforced required affordability checks, nearly one-third of gamblers would relocate abroad. Flutter and Entain are leaders in the voluntary responsible gambling movement and agree that only well-tested techniques should be taken into account. The gaming industry has criticized the UKGC’s actions. Nearly all operators have expressed disapproval of the UKGC’s strategy. According to Flutter, the regulator hardly ever responds to operator responses, making it challenging for operators to comprehend why their testimony was disregarded in the decision-making process.

White Paper on Gambling Reforms Delayed

It is obvious that the UKGC must solve the issues brought up by gaming businesses to function as a reliable regulator. Industry insiders must contribute more, and the regulator must cooperate rather than confront. Affordability checks are still a hot topic, and to stop the growth of underground gambling, only thoroughly tested methods should be taken into consideration. The white paper on gambling has been postponed for over three years. Although the government body in charge of the gambling reforms has published some of the respondents’ comments, a release date for the white paper is not yet known.

In the end, it’s clear that the UKGC needs to put in more work to become a useful regulator. To provide feedback on the operators’ feedback, the regulator should collaborate with them more closely. When making new laws, the UKGC should also look at new technologies that can work around existing rules. Affordability checks are a hot topic, and only thoroughly tried and true methods should be taken into consideration to stop the growth of illegal gambling. When the gaming white paper will be published is still uncertain.