Alderney gambling regulator reports increase in licences in 2020

In its annual report, the Alderney Gambling Control Commission revealed its number of active licences has reached 50.

The Channel Islands.- The Alderney Gambling Control Commission has reported that the number of active gaming licences issued by the regulator reached 50 in 2020.

That’s an increase from 46 Alderney-licensed gaming operators in 2019 but remains lower than the 53 licences reported in 2018.

The regulator’s annual report says that of the 55 licences active at the end of 2020, 35 were full licensees, while 14 had associate certificates to operate.

The Alderney Gambling Control Commission issued six new licences in 2020, the same number as in 2019. No licence applications were refused and no licences revoked.

The regulator made £4m in revenue in 2020, down 14.6 per cent from 2019. The majority (£3.4m) came from licence fees, while £513,000 came from fees charged to clients.

Expenses fell by 11.5 per cent to £2.3m, including £1.6m in staff costs. Total comprehensive income was down 16 per cent year-on-year at £1.6m.

Lord Faulkner of Worcester, chair of the Alderney Gambling Council said: “At the Alderney Gambling Control Commission we redoubled our efforts to maintain an environment of continuity and stability for eGambling operators as they navigate in an industry facing numerous challenges.

“It is pleasing to note that not only has this strategy benefited our existing operators but it is also proving attractive to other high-quality large global operators that during 2020 found a new home in our jurisdiction.”

The number of inspections carried out by the regulator fell from 33 in 2019 to 13 last year. The number of sanctions also fell, from 86 in 2019 to 27 in 2020.

The regulator received 16 complaints from players, down from 23 in 2019. None progressed to a hearing.

Alderney is the third largest and the northernmost of the inhabited Channel Islands. It is part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, a self-governing British Crown dependency. 

The Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC) was established in May 2000. It consists of the Chairman and three members.