UK CMA will probe gaming operators

The CMA will focus on misleading advertising and unfair terms in gambling services.

UK.- This morning the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) approved a campaign to investigate customer treatment offered by gambling operators in the island. The national Gambling Commission expressed its support to the inquiry that will focus on misleading and unfair terms during the betting process.

“We approached the CMA to work with them to address issues in the gambling sector and we are delighted to have agreed a joint programme of work to ensure terms are fair and transparent,” commented Sarah Harrison, Chief Executive of the Gambling Commission. The CMA will respond to player’s demands on the seeming use of “misleading promotions and unfair terms” to randomly block pay-outs.

UK operators will face investigations in their regular activities in response to concerns that consumers have raised about the industry on issues such as promotions that are difficult to understand, cancelling bets, altering odds after bets have been accepted, and offering misleading sign-up promotions. The CMA approved the process under consumer protection legislation.

Nisha Arora, CMA Senior Director for Consumer Enforcement, said: “Gambling inevitably involves taking a risk, but it shouldn’t be a con,” and added: “We’re worried players are losing out because gambling sites are making it too difficult for them to understand the terms on which they’re playing, and may not be giving them a fair deal. We are now investigating to see whether firms are breaking the law.”