UKGC releases its Enforcement Report
The UKGC revealed its 2018/19 Enforcement Report and disclosed that, despite setting fines worth €21.8 million, it wasn’t enough to protect customers.
UK.- The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) remains committed to working towards a safer gaming environment. However, as it posted its latest Enforcement Report, it showed some actions it took just haven’t been enough.
“Over the last 12 months, the Commission has carried out more than 160 investigations. Enforcement action has resulted in a variety of sanctions against operators and their senior management,” the UKGC said. “Operators have also paid €21.8 million in penalty packages because they failed to follow Commission rules aimed at making gambling fairer, safer and free from crime.”
Chief executive Neil McArthur said: “I want gambling consumers in Britain to be able to enjoy the fairest and safest gambling in the world. I want gambling operators to work with us to put customer enjoyment and safety at the top of their corporate agenda.
“As the report shows, we will be tough when we find operators bending the rules or failing to meet our expectations, but we also want to try and minimise the need for such action by providing advice, a programme of support material and compliance activity to help operators get things right in the first place.’’
Investigation on crime and problem gambling links
The Howard League for Penal Reform has launched the Commission on Crime and Problem Gambling. The commission will investigate the relationship between crime and problem gambling and will collect evidence for three years.
The new commission from the UK will look into patterns that link crime and problem gambling. It will then make recommendations to the government, the gambling industry and the criminal justice system on how to proceed. Lord Goldsmith, a former Cabinet member, will be chair of the commission, along with other 16 members.
“Concern about harmful gambling activity has been growing for some time. This is the first commission to focus specifically on the relationship between problem gambling and crime,” Lord Goldsmith said. “Our commission will seek to establish what the links are; what impact they have on communities and wider society; and, crucially, what steps we can take to reduce crime and make people safer.”
The UKGC welcomed the new entity and said: “This independent Commission on Crime and Problem Gambling will fill a significant gap in understanding the relationship between gambling harms and crime,” said Tim Miller, executive director of UKGC.
