New Guidance About Problem Gambling Introduced By UK’s Gambling Regulator

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has announced that its list of rules on high-risk gamblers has been updated. The new guidance it has introduced comes into force on 12 September 2022. Its aim is to address the issue of problem gambling in the country.

Of course, most online casinos already have features in place to help people keep control when they play. This includes providers who are not on the GAMSTOP self-exclusion scheme. There are an estimated +50 casino sites operating like this. They have their own protections and support in place for players.

However, even though most providers are making efforts to protect customers, the UKGC believes that more can be done.

Guidance puts more emphasis on protecting customers who may be at risk

The new guidance supplements the previous instructions from the UKGC that were issued in April 2022. It’s intended to provide increased protection for people who may be at harm from gambling.

The vast majority of people have fun playing at online casinos and come to no harm. However, a few more vulnerable customers need extra support. As a result, the UKGC has said it expects providers to check for potential indicators of harm to a customer. These indicators may include factors like age and financial status.

Further to this, the new guidance recommends that providers have more interactions with individual customers rather than just providing them with self-help tools. It’s hoped that this will help them better identify people who are spending too much money playing online and neglecting their bills and other essential expenses.

Another aspect of the new guidance from the UKGC is that providers will be expected to segment different gambling activities and report on problem gambling in each sector. Licensees will then be expected to check these reports on a monthly basis.

Financial punishments meted out to several operators

The new guidance and standards will be strictly monitored by the UKGC. It’s expected that most providers will comply and continue to care for their customers as they do now. However, any provider that does not put the required measures in place will face harsh penalties.

It’s clear that these penalties are not simply an empty threat from the UKGC as both Jumpman Gaming and Pragmatic Play received large fines recently for not fully meeting their licensing obligations.

In the case of Jumpman Gaming the fine was £500,000 and for Pragmatic Play it was £175,718. Providers will be keen to avoid this type of financial blow. So, they will add to the protections they already have in place and make sure that every player has fun and does not overstretch themselves financially. The UKGC will continue to monitor the situation and make sure that every provider takes these actions.

This is a positive situation for everyone as providers that show a caring and responsible attitude are more likely to attract custom and players get the support they need to play safely and responsibly.