NAO says UKGC could do more to protect players
The National Audit Office (NAO) suggests way the regulator and government can better protect players.
UK.- A National Audit Office (NAO) report has said the Gambling Commission and the government could and should be doing more to protect players and prevent problem gambling.
The report suggests the regulator and the government should:
- Be more strategic about getting gambling companies to protect people more effectively. This could include incentivising companies to do more to make gambling safer beyond meeting minimum requirements
- Ensure gamblers are aware of services to resolve disputes, and review whether these arrangements are working effectively.
- Review how regulation is funded so they can keep pace with a fast-changing industry.
“Licensed gambling has grown by 57 per cent – £4.1 billion – over the last decade, mainly due to a massive increase in online and smartphone gambling. The risks to gamblers are changing as technologies develop”, Gareth Davies, Head of the NAO, said.
“Yet the Gambling Commission is a small regulator in a huge and fast-evolving industry. While the Commission has made improvements, gambling regulation lags behind the industry. The Commission and government need to work together to ensure that regulation keeps pace with the risk to gamblers,” he added.
The NAO report covers the regulation of the UK gambling industry which generates more than £11.3 billion in revenue every year.
