Tim Miller, the executive director of research and policy at the GB Gambling Commission, has revealed the upcoming plans for the next set of consultations as part of the Gambling Act Review white paper. This round of consultations will specifically focus on bonuses and free bets, ensuring that they are socially responsible and do not encourage harmful or excessive gambling.
The consultations stem from the proposals outlined in the Gambling Act review white paper, which addressed how gambling should be regulated in the UK moving forward. Another key topic for consultation is the calculation of financial penalties, with a focus on bringing greater clarity and transparency to the process.
Additionally, the consultations will cover the statutory levy, customer-led tools, transparency of protection for customer funds, and the requirement for annual contributions to Research, Prevention, and Treatment (RET). The Commission also intends to consult on regulatory data and financial key event reporting.
Miller emphasized the importance of implementing the government’s Gambling Act review recommendations alongside the Commission’s day-to-day work regulating the industry to ensure gambling remains safe, fair, and free from crime.
In a blog post on the Commission’s website, Miller acknowledged the Commission’s progress in rolling out the recommendations and announced plans to consult on seven topics over the course of 12 weeks, with the consultations set to close in February or March.
The first round of consultations, which opened in July and closed in October, received over 3,000 submissions. This round focused on financial risk and vulnerability checks, online games design, direct marketing and cross-selling, and age verification on premises.
The topic of affordability checks, a controversial aspect of the white paper for the industry, has drawn criticism and controversy from several individuals and organizations within the gambling sector. However, the Commission remains committed to addressing these concerns and moving forward with the regulations outlined in the white paper.