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Adults who choose to spend their money on gambling are free to do so, and we should not inhibit the development of a sustainable and properly regulated industry which pays taxes and provides employment to service that demand. Millions of us enjoy gambling every year and most suffer no ill effects, so state intervention must be targeted to prevent addictive and harmful gambling. We must also pay particular attention to making sure children are protected, including as they become young adults and for the first time are able to gamble on a wide range of products. We are enormously grateful to all of those who have contributed to our Review, especially those with personal experience of gambling-related addiction and harms who have spoken out about their own struggles or those of people they love. Likewise, our understanding of gambling-related harms and gambling disorder has developed enormously over recent years.
This arrangement can enable an established licensee to partner with a third-party brand to attract new customers to their gambling offer. ‘White label’ is not a statutory term, but it describes a commercial arrangement which has become more widespread in recent years whereby a licensee offers remote gambling under a brand provided by a third-party which does not itself hold a gambling operator licence. We think that behavioural science provides valuable insights around how the design of platforms and processes can be improved to better empower consumers and reduce the risk of harm. For instance, a recent audit of online operator platforms by the Behavioural Insights team found 8 of the top 10 GB operators stated a minimum account balance was required for customers to withdraw their funds. Further concerns were raised in areas where the Gambling Commission has previously taken action, including rules around the timeliness of requests for identity documentation.
Specifically, there are currently no provisions to verify that payment information used by online gamblers matches the account holder’s identity. The intention is for this to be done through the Gambling Commission updating the licence conditions and codes of practice on all remote operators, but if necessary we would consider legislation. Once we are satisfied, the Commission will consult on any outstanding details and on requiring all remote operators to integrate with the system. As part of the trial, codes of practice are being developed to ensure operators respond appropriately when they are notified of customers in this situation.
Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Security audience. Even if a ransom is paid, we have seen that there is no guarantee of “honor among thieves” — sometimes the victim is left severly compromised, and they’re out the sum they paid. The problem is that ransomware can and will swiftly spread across a vulnerable environment such as a casino floor. Without this in the U.S., if ransomware were to take over a casino floor, that operator may be prevented from paying the ransom if the money was going to a prohibited place or organization. Writing better and stronger code will also strengthen the security of operating systems.
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- We welcome industry’s expansion of its commitment to safer gambling messaging to constitute 20% of all advertising across both online and broadcast channels.
On that basis, we will also consult on measures to give greater protections for 18 to 24-year-olds who the evidence suggests may be a particularly vulnerable cohort. However, taking an equitable approach to product regulation should take account of the wider system of protections in place online. Operators which heavily weight their risk score by stake size were deliberately excluded from the analysis to avoid giving a false impression of a positive linear correlation. Nonetheless, accounts flagged as high and medium risk account for a greater proportion of stakes in higher value staking bands. Since the call for evidence closed, we have also been told that 35% of customers stake more than £2 at least once a year. Among respondents outside of industry, there was a broad consensus that stake limits on slots are needed.
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If Parliamentary time allows, we would also consider making changes to allow trials of linked machines in venues other than individual casinos, and to permit the rollout of linked machines more generally (e.g. after a trial has taken place and the data analysed). These included potential community multi-player games with an element of chance, in which players would compete against each other in the same event and which are not currently permitted by current Category C rules. However, the advice is that the onus should be on industry to demonstrate how developments on cashless payments can be offered in a manner which does not increase the risk of gambling harm or gambling-related crime, such as money laundering.
This should be more bespoke than a risk assessment and centre on particular details identified by the CIA. Once published, CIAs place some of the ongoing analytical burden on the applicant, as the operator has the option to demonstrate that its proposals will not increase harm in a particular area. CIAs will complement existing powers by supporting licensing authorities to capture and regularly review a wide range of evidence, such as density of premises in a particular area, health and crime statistics, and residents’ questionnaires. The government is also clear that the ‘aim to permit’ requirement in Section 153 of the 2005 Act does not prevent the refusal of licences or the introduction of controls as necessary or desirable to minimise risk. Through developing their policy statements, licensing authorities are able to set out their ambitions for gambling in their area, and this in turn informs how they assess and decide applications for new gambling premises.
The ICO stressed the importance of licensed operators upholding the information rights of data subjects. Gamblers commonly resort to self-exclusion as a way to close a gambling account, with evidence suggesting this as a motivating factor for 37% of self-exclusions. Stakeholders also had concerns that there is rarely a simple way to close an online gambling account without speaking to a customer service representative.
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In particular, licensing authorities were concerned that the ‘aim to permit’ results in the granting of premises licences even when specific harms or risks have been identified. However, licensing authority responses to our call for evidence suggested that further powers were needed to give them a real say on gambling premises in their areas and protect communities. However, some also voiced concerns that payment with debit cards could make it harder for customers to stay in control of spending and some were sceptical of the extent to which existing debit card technology would make it possible for operators to track chaotic play and intervene appropriately. Some submissions highlighted that gambling blocks on debit cards could make it easier to prevent harmful gambling and track customer spend. Gambling harm campaign groups said that land-based premises are easily accessible and can be a gateway to harmful gambling and therefore should be made safer. Operators told us that there are few places where demand for casinos is not currently met, but that there should be a mechanism for allocating licences to these areas in future.
Replacing industry ownership, this will consider information at the point of purchase and messages within advertising, and identify what messaging works for different contexts and audiences. The consultation also will consider measures such as a cap on re-wagering requirements and an appropriate minimum time frame for customers to claim bonuses. In our view, it would be premature to pursue legislative options without first pursuing enhanced industry-led protections, given the potential downsides. We will consult on the potential for regulating large scale prize draws with a view to identifying options and developing an evidence base against which their impact and the extent to which different regulatory measures would be proportionate can be properly assessed. We received some submissions expressing concern about the recent growth of such competitions, which can now be run remotely and at large scale, and often offer significant prizes such as a luxury home or car. Similarly, there are draws and competitions which offer entry routes linked to charitable donations rather than payments to the organisers.
These trends can be a decisive indicator of an operator’s future potential and play a key role in shaping our online casinos recommendations. This involves a deep dive into the growth trajectories of various gaming venues, the popularity of different games, and changes in user behaviour over time. Stakers Club is an indispensable resource for players seeking the best options across the UK gaming landscape. For high-stakes players, it is vital to consider gaming platforms with high or no withdrawal limits, allowing unrestricted access to winnings. The Stakers UK casino ranking 🏆 takes into account average game earnings, size and frequency of promotions, site usability, and player protections.
Whether it is a matter of colluding players or rogue employees, establishing a clear timeline helps inform necessary preventive measures moving forward. By employing advanced algorithms, AI systems can analyze historical data and player behavior in real-time, recognizing unusual patterns that could indicate fraudulent activities. In the U.S., most casinos are regulated by state gaming commissions or tribal authorities. Modern casinos rely on digital systems for everything from slot machines to customer data.
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The Local Government Association response stated that there are cases where a licensing authority would like to place further limits on machines in venues but are prevented from doing so (such as in a licensed bingo premises in an area of economic disadvantage). Concerns regarding energy efficiency are particularly relevant, with operators estimating that costs have increased significantly over recent months. Operators have also highlighted the energy and operating costs of machines, noting that older machines are less likely to be energy efficient and more likely to break down. While machines have always been allowed to have multi-stake options, in practice, most earlier machines had a set fixed stake. Many of the legacy Category C and D machines that still remain in venues do not have these capabilities. Data provided to the Bingo Association by one of its members (a bingo operator chain) indicated the current average customer dwell time on a B3 machine in a retail bingo hall was under 8 minutes, with an average loss of under £8.
Importantly, while third parties typically undertake a range of peripheral tasks related to the gambling offer (e.g. marketing, data storage, age verification, due diligence checks, customer interaction), only the licensee may provide “facilities for gambling”. The Review has not seen data which robustly quantifies behavioural nudges or barriers in the online gambling sector, so it is difficult to estimate how much they may drive consumer spending/ revenue that would not have otherwise happened, or the impact of any changes. This approach assumes that those using self-exclusion facilities do so to manage harmful gambling, as opposed to things like marketing and / or data processing preferences. Several specific areas of concern were identified in responses, including how the design of online gambling platforms (the so called ‘choice architecture’) can make it difficult to access tools or information intended to support consumers to make informed and safer decisions about their gambling.
Apps could be helpful in bringing in safer gambling controls to new casinos not on gamstop cashless payments, but we acknowledge this is most likely to be one option for payment, rather than the only alternative to cash. The Gambling Commission’s advice emphasises that account-based play could have an important role in protecting consumers of land-based products. As noted in Chapter 1, we welcome the work which banks and payment providers are doing to allow customers to better control their gambling spend. A survey carried out by GamFam and submitted to the call for evidence included suggestions that cashless payments using debit cards with customer ID cards could effectively increase monitoring in venues. In particular, they note that gambling premises such as arcades have become increasingly susceptible to robberies. They also noted the cost of refloating machines, which has become more challenging for pubs where cash payments are not taken over the bar.
Secondly, until its recent fees uplift, the Gambling Commission’s resources for responding to the black market were concentrated on acting on complaints and intelligence with a risk-based approach. Combined with the changes the Commission has made following its consultation on licensing and enforcement and the legislative changes we have proposed, it will be better enabled through its powers to penalise operators who have not abided by the law. It will conduct a review of the status of customer funds protection across the remote industry to help inform consideration of whether further strengthening of requirements is necessary. The Commission has also clarified the definition of customer funds, so that consumers can better understand the protections offered. As part of the Commission’s Review of Online Gambling (2018), a package of work was undertaken to assess the risks and options around customer funds.
In addition, research by Steve Sharman and others looking at matchday programmes in English football found that the industry of the sponsor was a significant factor in the proportion of pages containing adverts. Research from Professor Ian McHale commissioned by the English Football League (EFL), which is sponsored by Sky Bet, looked at data from the Health Surveys and the Gambling Commission’s Young People and Gambling Survey, as well as a YouGov survey of football fans. The evidence we have seen on sport sponsorship indicates that it does have a level of impact on gambling behaviour, although this may not be as marked as for other forms of marketing addressed in this chapter. Once appropriate campaigns and messaging are developed, the Commission will consult on further requirements for gambling operators to engage with and apply the new messaging appropriately alongside product-based information in order to inform and empower consumers. DHSC, DCMS and the Gambling Commission will work together, drawing on public health and social marketing expertise, to develop a robust approach to informational messaging throughout the user journey, replacing industry owned safer gambling messaging.
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In the shorter term, industry will update the IGRG Code to extend the BGC’s existing commitment of at least 20% of TV and radio ads space being safer gambling focused to all advertising space across online and broadcast media. The evidence suggests it would be beneficial to develop systematic messaging, independent from industry, to maximise the information available to consumers and enable them to make informed decisions with a better understanding of the risks. Evidence from existing awareness campaigns suggests messages which are framed positively and concentrate on the benefits of safer play are more likely to result in a behaviour change than those which concentrate on the consequences of harmful gambling. Branded ‘safer gambling’ ad spots containing calls to action such as ‘enjoy award-winning online casino safely’ were also heavily criticised.
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Understanding the context of an individual’s gambling can add significantly to an assessment of whether they are likely to be suffering harm. This approach allows tailored interventions to prevent harm without interrupting the experience of those showing no signs of risk. Therefore, a general shift in the economic model of remote gambling away from a reliance on a high spending minority is likely desirable to achieve the government’s objectives and create a more sustainable industry.