The UK Gambling Commission has launched its second round of the Gambling Act review white paper consultations as it seeks to improve gambling in Britain.
The second batch of consultations will cover socially responsible incentives; customer-led tools; transparency of protection of customer funds; removing commission requirements that would become obsolete due to the government’s upcoming statutory levy; and regulatory data.
Tim Miller, UKGC Executive Director for Research and Policy, commented: “The White Paper set out that a top government priority is ensuring that gambling happens safely. We share this commitment and today’s consultations propose how we can deliver on it.”
Taking a closer look at the consultation’s topics, socially responsible incentives will cover incentive-related proposals like free bets and bonuses, making sure they do not encourage harmful or excessive gambling.
Customer-led tools will look at proposals to empower consumers to use tools such as deposit limits and make it easier for them to manage their gambling.
Another focus will examine proposals to increase transparency of protection to consumers if their funds are held by licensees that offer no protection in the event of insolvency.
Removing commission requirements that would become obsolete due to the government’s upcoming statutory levy will view proposals to remove the current LCCP requirement to make annual financial contributions to a set list of research, prevention and treatment organisations.
Regulatory data will take a look at the proposal to coordinate the frequency of reporting of regulatory returns from annual to quarterly across all operators.
The second round of consultations will run for a 12-week period, closing next year on February 21.
Miller added: “We need as many people as possible to have their say on any potential changes to the rules operators must follow. These views will ultimately help shape gambling regulation across the country.”
In addition, the UKGC will also be shortly launching two additional consultation topics – financial penalties and financial key event reporting – related to ‘business as usual’ matters.
