UKGC: “Far more needs to be done to raise standards”
The gambling regulator from the UK was part of the ARQ Gaming Compliance Forum in Malta and discussed compliance standards.
UK.- Neil McArthur, chief executive of the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), recently participated in the ARQ Gaming Compliance Forum in Malta. During the forum, the CEO discussed current compliance and highlighted that the market needs more standards among gambling businesses that target British consumers but are based overseas.
McArthur covered three broad issues, including the current situation of the industry, the priorities and emerging issues and opportunities to collaborate. He said that they have found that compliance activity has not been good enough.
UKGC undertook an investigation in 2018 in which it asked 45 of 123 online casino operators to submit an action plan to raise compliance standards. Another 14 online casino operators were the subject of enforcement investigations, where 7 paid over €20 million in penalty packages, 5 surrendered their licences and 3 PMLs also gave up their permits.
“It’s disappointing to note that currently, 24 of the 45 operators who had to submit action plans are based here. The same is true for 5 of the 7 operators who had to pay penalties and 3 of those which surrendered licences,” said McArthur.
“The Commission is clear that although progress has been made in the regulation of the online market since 2014, far more needs to be done to raise standards. So let today be the start of a fresh commitment: A commitment to raise standards and to collaborate with us to make more progress more quickly. In return, the Commission commits that we stand ready to help in these efforts. But rest assured, we also remain ready, when needed to take enforcement action.”
UKGC’s focus
“We all need to focus on the outcome we want, which is safer gambling and check our interventions are having a real, positive impact on that outcome. We at the Gambling Commission will play our part in Raising Standards as well.”
The commission said that in coming months they will take action to address concerns around gambling with credit cards, which follows the current consultation. They will also gather data on online play and what that means for stakes limits, including looking closely at the case for introducing further protections for consumers online as a means of further reducing the risk of harm. UKGC will explore the use of all our tools to encourage or mandate changes in the interests of consumer protection around VIP schemes and inducements.
“We also want to encourage collaboration by operators to raise standards. Earlier this month I set out three opportunities for collaboration and I need to be clear that these issues are not just the Gambling Commission’s concerns either,” said UKGC.
Cooperation with Malta
UKGC said that the relationship with the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) is vital to their work. “Just over a year ago, the MGA joined us in signing the joint declaration of Gambling Regulators raising concerns related to the blurring of lines between gambling and gaming. We are also both members of the GREF e-gambling and Responsible gambling working groups and the CEN working group, which is considering standardisation of reporting. And the MGA share our concerns about the need to raise standards.”
