Europe - Player Protection Hub

Charles Counsell appointed as interim Chair of UK Gambling Commission

CasinoBeatsDecember 18, 20240354 views

The UK Government’s Secretary of State has appointed Charles Counsell as interim Chair of the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC).

Serving a nine-month term as interim Chair from 1 February 2025, Counsell will be replacing Marcus Boyle, who will be stepping down as Chair at the end of January next year.

Counsell has been a Senior Independent Director for the UKGC since April 2024. Previously, he was the CEO of The Pensions Regulator from April 2019 to March 2023.

During his time at The Pensions Regulator, Counsell helped to develop a corporate strategy to make the pension saver a priority for the organisation’s work, in addition to delivering the regulator’s first Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Climate Change strategies.

He has also served as CEO of the Money Advice Service and Executive Director of Automatic Enrolment at The Pensions Regulator.

Leaving the UKGC at the end of next month, Boyle has been Chair of the Commission since September 2021. His term was initiall..

Watch again: GambleAware Annual Conference 2024

Steve HoareDecember 5, 20240401 views

If you missed yesterday’s GambleAware Annual Conference, you can watch the whole seven hours here. Or jump to the bits that interest you. Highlights include Gambling Minister Baroness Twycross explaining the next steps with the RET Levy and threatening new measures on advertising; and Gambling Commission Executive Director Tim Miller making a plea for industry…

Gambling Commission issues rallying call for greater collaboration

Steve HoareDecember 4, 20240354 views

Gambling Commission Executive Director Tim Miller used his speech at the GambleAware conference in London to encourage collaboration between all parts of the gambling ecosystem, while chastising those who sow division and misuse statistics for political gain. Miller was speaking at GambleAware’s annual conference, which brought together the player protection community to discuss the outcome…

UK Gambling Minister demands “further action” from industry on advertising

Steve HoareDecember 4, 20240350 views

In her first public appearance since becoming the UK’s Gambling Minister, Baroness Twycross demanded action from operators to curb advertising. “The issue of what is appropriate needs to be looked at in aggregate,” said the Minister, “not operator by operator. I do not stand here today to tell you what that volume must be, but…

UK levy reaction: From triumph to despair

Steve HoareNovember 28, 20240351 views

Campaigners claimed levy doesn’t go far enough, while treatment providers are concerned at the lack of a prevention commissioner, and independence remains a key concern “Of all the policies set out in the previous government’s white paper, this is the most significant and ill-considered,” Regulus Partners’ Dan Waugh told the Player Protection Hub. “It effectively…

Gambling Commission Chair Marcus Boyle to step down

CasinoBeatsNovember 27, 20240334 views

The UK Gambling Commission has announced that Marcus Boyle will step down as Chair at the end of January next year.

With his term set to conclude on 31 January 2025, the UKGC thanked Boyle for his service as Chair in a statement on its website.

He has held the role of Chair at the Commission since 5 September 2021 when he took over from Bill Moyes, who was appointed to the position in 2017. Boyle’s term as Chair was initially set to expire on 4 September 2026.

The UKGC said that Boyle has led the Commission over the past three years as changes have occurred in the UK gambling industry and to its regulations.

These changes include the awarding of the fourth National Lottery licence, the ongoing Gambling Act Review and White Paper implementations and the recruitment of a new Board of Commissioners.

In addition, the Commission stated it is “in a strong position and with a clearly defined path forward” following the April 2024 publication of its Corporate Strategy 2024 to 2027, expl..

Dutch trade associations launch illegal online gambling reporting centre

CasinoBeatsNovember 27, 20240342 views

Vergunde Nederlandse Online Kansspelaanbieders (VNLOK) and Nederlandse Online Gambling Associatie (NOGA), two trade associations for licensed online gambling providers in the Netherlands, have launched ‘Meld Vals Spel’, a reporting centre to highlight illegal online gambling operations in the country.

Meld Vals Spel is an initiative that will allow VNLOK and NOGA members, as well as other licensees, partner organisations and other industry stakeholders, to report any illegal gambling practices they see, such as a lack of player protection, excessive bonuses and minors not being excluded.

To complement the efforts combatting illegal gambling in the Netherlands by the country’s gaming authority Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), VNLOK and NOGA hope that the reporting centre will help “gain a better understanding of the working methods of illegal parties” and contribute to “a more effective approach to illegality and the protection of vulnerable players”.

Meld Vals Spel’s goal is also to warn a..

EveryMatrix partners with BetBlocker and RGF to create Maltese version of BetBlocker

CasinoBeatsNovember 20, 20240326 views

EveryMatrix has partnered with BetBlocker and the Responsible Gaming Foundation (RGF) as part of a collaborative project to support safer gambling in Malta.

Launched as part of European Safer Gambling Week 2024, the project will see a Maltese version of BetBlocker’s blocking software created, supporting players in Malta looking to manage their gambling access. The partnership will also help raise awareness of the service.

“We’re delighted to be able to support BetBlocker and the RGF with this important initiative in Malta, particularly in time for Safer Gambling Week,” commented Jake Cachia, Head of Compliance at EveryMatrix.

“EveryMatrix is proud of its commitment to safer gambling and player protection while producing market-leading gaming solutions, and partnerships such as underlining how crucial it is to keep making a difference.”

A UK-registered charity, BetBlocker blocks a device from accessing over 85,000 gambling websites and 1,500 gambling apps. A free-to-use app, the ser..

Andrew Rhodes: UK gambling industry is entering a new era

Steve HoareNovember 18, 20240358 views

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…

UKGC: Gambling Harms Action Lab can help ‘identify new ways to reduce gambling harms’

CasinoBeatsNovember 8, 20240324 views

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..