It’s been a long year for the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), marked by a variety of regulatory implementations and a deepened focus on fostering better support for operators. However, work is just picking up pace, with 2024 laying the foundations of what will be a more mature and refined UK market in the coming years. This was…
Tim Miller, Executive Director at the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), has stated that the Gambling Harms Action Lab will help collaborative efforts “to develop and improve existing practice and identify new ways to reduce gambling harms”.
A Money and Mental Health Policy Institute initiative, the Gambling Harms Action Lab is a three-year programme that will see the institute work with current account providers to improve gambling support for their customers. The initiative was launched at an event hosted by the institute on 5 November, with Miller speaking at the event.
The UKGC Director noted that the Action Lab will help to bring structure and focus to collaborative gambling harm support efforts between Money and Mental Health, the UKGC and the financial services industry.
Miller said: “I am delighted to be here for the launch of the Gambling Harms Action Lab. A few years ago Helen and I met in a coffee shop to talk about the potential positive role that the financial services ind..
New research published by Maynooth University and Ulster University has found that young people who live on both sides of the border in Ireland are exposed to extremely high levels of gambling marketing when viewing some national and international sporting events. The report makes six recommendations including cutting sports’ reliance on gambling advertising revenues and…
British banks and financial institutions can help fill ‘gaps in support’ related to the treatment and intervention of those exposed to gambling-related harms.
This recommendation has been put forward in a policy paper by the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute (MMHPI), which explores the “role of financial services in tackling gambling-related harms.”
Established in 2016 by Martin Lewis (CBE), the founder of MoneySavingExpert.com, MMHPI seeks to provide new expertise on financial policy to improve public well-being.
As detailed, “The policy paper examines gambling harms in Britain and the role of current account providers in supporting the launch of a new programme of work.”
Banks have a unique visibility of threats
Of particular relevance to the treatment and intervention of gambling harms, banks and financial institutions have a ‘unique visibility’ into individuals’ spending habits, enabling them to identify potentially harmful gambling behaviours and intervene early to mi..
GamCare will stop providing its safer gambling service by the end of 2024 after failing to find an alternative home for the service. The resultant restructuring has meant a number of safer gambling professionals have left the organisation and are seeking employment elsewhere. In a statement released today, the organisation announced: “GamCare’s Board decided in…
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has published its first Code Handbook, as it looks to give a more in depth guide on raising standards in the UK betting industry, A trio of codes have become part of License Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP) for members. These measures have already been implemented across the sector. At the…
The UK Gambling Commission has teamed up with Malta’s Gaming Authority to better regulate its gambling sector through a Memorandum of Understanding.
The agreement will see both regulators exchange information and intelligence to build up better consumer safeguarding measures, curb criminal behaviour and combat the rise of gambling harm.
Andrew Rhodes, UKGC CEO, lauded the agreement, stating: “We welcome this agreement as a sign of our continued collaboration between the MGA and the UKGC. We’ve been working closely for some time now, and following our successful visit this summer, it is only fitting that we formulate our working relationship.
“We are keen to continue strengthening our efforts to raise standards across the industry, tackling common challenges such as illegal gambling, while also exploring future collaboration, including initiatives like shadowing and addressing key issues in areas like AML and sports betting integrity.”
By sharing best practices through the partners..
Riksrevisionen, the Swedish National Audit Office, has completed its audit of Spelinspektionen and has determined that the authority’s supervision of the country’s gambling market is ineffective.
In response, the gambling regulator has stated that it welcomes the audit office’s review, noting that “several issues are still awaiting practice in court” and that it has also received increased budget funds for 2024, which were “a decisive factor” in developing its operations further.
‘Not sufficiently effective’
The audit of Spelinspektionen began in November last year, with Riksrevisionen tasked with assessing if the regulator’s management over the Swedish gambling market is effective. Part of the audit’s responsibility was to see how Spelinspektionen had supervised the country’s gambling since the market was re-regulated in 2019.
A licensing system was introduced during that year to allow for gambling to take place under public control, increase channelisation to licensed operators,..
Autorité Nationale des Jeux, France’s gaming authority, has launched a new information campaign about online casinos – “100% winner?” – to remind the French public about the dangers of illegal online gambling websites.
The campaign is part of the ANJ’s 2024-2026 strategic plan to tackle several objectives in the country’s gambling market, which includes combating illegal gambling.
It also follows a 2023 study conducted by the PWC for the ANJ on illegal gambling in France, which noted that between three to four million people have gambled on illegal sites, with online casinos being the most popular.
Beginning in October, the “100% winner?” information campaign aims to raise awareness amongst the French public about online casinos being illegal in the country, as only online poker, online sports betting and online horse racing are regulated.
The campaign will also provide education on the dangers of illegal websites in order to help reduce risky behaviours and problem gambling.
Isab..
Sitebee, Gentoo Media’s newly-rebranded compliance tool, has strengthened its brand protection services by gaining legal expertise from Quality Mark Responsible Affiliates.
Gentoo Media’s automated compliance and brand protection tool, formerly GiG Comply, will offer clients access to “deep expertise in igaming regulations” provided by QMRA to encourage compliance in regulated jurisdictions.
Rasmus Bank Nielsen, Head of Sitebee, commented: “By integrating QMRA’s extensive legal knowledge, Sitebee empowers our clients with the latest regulatory insights, allowing them to operate with confidence in a highly dynamic market.
“This partnership gives operators the clarity and foresight they need to manage risk and maintain compliance across all regions where they operate.”
Sitebee’s partnered operators will be able to leverage QMRA’s legal expertise simply by having access to the compliance tool, helping said operators to “anticipate and adapt to changing requirements in various regi..