Despite knowing the risks, the UK government seems to have sided with a new set of laws that aim to reform gambling in the country. Unfortunately, more than 65% of the gamblers in the nation seem to think it is only going to push them to play at unregulated online casinos instead. Are the newly proposed laws going to be effective in reducing problem gambling or is it going to backfire and only makes things worse?
The biggest issue with the new proposal comes in the form of a limit on how much players can bet. Over 56% of UK gamblers surveyed seem to disagree with this limitation. It is only a small fraction of all gamblers that suffer from problem gambling and putting a blanket limit on everyone in the country is like trying to use a knife to sew instead of a needle. Many experts that disagree with the effectiveness of this restriction seem to think it will only force players to simply use offshore online gambling websites instead. If this happens, the country will possibly lose hundreds of millions in tax revenue as well. Not only is not an effective solution to the problem, but it could end up exacerbating it.
The Government Turns a Blind Eye to Study Findings
The findings were discussed by Michael Dugher, CEO of the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC). He said that the findings demonstrated that if the government heeds to anti-gambling folk, gamblers would not leave peacefully. These groups aim to encroach on people’s privacy and freedom of choice by imposing broad financial regulations and extra prohibitions.
Michael Dugher also stated that the general public, as it is, perceived politicians as a separate class from themselves. By the Government intruding into their financial matters and dictating how one may or may not spend their money will do nothing to amend the common perception of politicians.
The study comes as the head of the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), Marcus Boyle, suggests that the regulator may seek for stiffer penalties for operators that break the regulations. He remarked in an article published in The Times that the UKGC wants operators to do more than merely comply with the “lowest possible compliance.” Boyle stated that if regulations were not followed to the tee, the UKGC my simply void the service provider’s license.
Operators could expect cumulative punishment packages, he added. These will include not just increased monetary penalties, but also a series of measures designed to compel the operator to modify its ways. Fines based on a portion of the platform’s earnings, suspensions, and license restrictions are all possibilities.
Boyle also urged for additional gaming data to help the regulator better understand how individuals gamble and how many of them are struggling. Despite a problem gambling prevalence of only 0.2 percent in the country, the chairman claimed that the UKGC intends to expand its data sources and undertake research into the relationship between gambling and suicide.
Game Operators Already Taking Steps to Comply with New Regulations
Gambling related marketing campaigns took a hit in October of las year itself. This is when prohibitions were introduced that banned ads that leveraged athletes. Ads showing certain team jerseys and venues were also deemed illegal. Gaming operators were even prohibited from using video game content to market their services. These restrictions were imposed on all forms of ads, including TV ads, radio ads, online ads, newspaper ads and billboards. Many online casino operators and their affiliates have already amended their ads accordingly.
As of the 1st of June, sites like www.NoDepositFan.com have updated their advertising standards to comply with new requirements on no deposit bonuses.
Boyle has supposedly started research on algorithms that can assist recognize problem gamblers in partnership with a number of regulated operators in the UK. He also wants to create a “mandated, independent examination of standards and accreditation for those attaining the highest levels,” according to him.
According to a BGC representative, the group is already working to strengthen the environment as the industry standards body for gaming and betting since 2019. Well before the UKGC chose to discuss algorithms, it began building standards and discussing best practices.
A spokesperson for the BGC stated that BGC members already leverage technologies including algorithms in order to spot players at risk of becoming habit gamers. These algorithms and processes, the spokesperson continued, will further be bolstered by the newly implemented UKGC standards on markers of harm which came into lay in September 2021.
Furthermore, the BGC was a driving force behind a campaign to create a whistle-to-whistle advertising prohibition, promote safer gaming measures including deposit restrictions, and enforce time-outs. It has also increased its education and treatment spending. Stronger youth gambling safety barriers, a prohibition on using credit cards for gaming, and other initiatives have been endorsed by the group.
It must be noted that the UKGC had implemented a ban on in 2020, but had exempted lottery games from this prohibition. As per the UK National Institute of Health, lottery games are the most commonly associated with problems gamblers, despite being the number 1 gambling activity across the globe.
