UKGC to review bookmakers’ licences

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) will review the licences of seven bookmakers as they failed underage betting tests.

UK.- The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has revealed that seven bookmakers are currently under review after they allowed a 16-year-old to place bets. The bookmakers could lose their licences after they failed underage betting tests.

The gambling regulator from the UK said that officers from the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, supported by the Gambling Commission and Trading Standards, conducted last month the Age Verification test purchasing at Royal Ascot.

Out of the 17 operators that were tested, seven allowed a 16-year-old to place a £5 bet. Because of this failing, the bookmakers are now facing regulatory action from the UKGC and could lose their licences.

Richard Watson, Commission Executive Director, said that these licence reviews show how strongly they feel about underage gambling. He added that every single gambling business must protect children from gambling. “But the on-course bookmakers results have remained unacceptable,” he added. Watson said the on-course sector had a history of failing age verification exercises.

He said: “Despite various educational attempts to raise standards by ourselves and the trade bodies, the on-course sector has historically performed poorly in both underage gambling test purchase exercises and Think 21 testing.

“Pass rates have failed to meet the standards expected and the sector has consistently performed to levels below those we see in other gambling and age-restricted products. Over the past four years, the on-course sector has a pass rate of around 35% for Think 21 testing.”

He added: “We welcome the positive initiative and the racecourse to raise standards in the gambling industry.”

The review received more support

Cllr David Cannon, Lead Member for Public Protection at the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, said: “I am content that our officers led and organised this test purchasing. It is important that our residents, as well as visitors to the borough, are safe. It is not acceptable to take bets from young people and I am happy that strong action is taking place.

“Our hard-working team of officers will often carry out test purchasing across the borough. This aims to ensure our residents are safe and that traders are abiding by the rules.

“I am happy that this hard work is paying off and the Gambling Commission are taking action against those bookmakers.”