Over the last few years the UK gambling laws have been made more strict in an effort to combat the problem of underage gambling and those that are considered vulnerable, with some operators issued hefty fines to send the message clearly by the UK Gambling Commission which controls everything that is associated with gambling.
Although regulations have undergone some changes most have remained the same since the Gambling Act was introduced back in 2005 and though it was the first significant gambling act to be introduced in the UK since 1961, increased traffic both off and online showed the need for revisions.
In the early Spring of 2020 as more people stayed at home online numbers soared as more people turned to online casino, slots and bingo sites for some entertainment. This increased traffic increased the associated risks and it was in May that the UK Gambling Commission began to bring in some stronger protections for those that were considered at a greater risk during stressful times.
With the shift in players enjoying games online at sites such as Swanky Bingo which can be found here the gaps in the 2005 Gambling Act soon became apparent with some businesses actually struggling to remain compliant – something had to be done to rectify the problem – and quickly.
Some of the Changes Brought Into Force in 2020
Below you will find some but not all of the changes brought into force by the UK Gambling Commission to help combat the problem of vulnerable people and the risks they face whilst gambling.
- Businesses are now asked to conduct affordability checks and to put some considered restrictions on bonus offers for some customers who might be thought of as vulnerable.
- The Gambling Commission has put into place stricter age limits and more in-depth verification procedures. Age and Identity checks have been tightened in order to prevent underage and problem gamling. Today gambling platforms must now verify their players’ identities before they can deposit any money into their account or before they gamble using any bonus or free bet offer. Another procedure put into place is that online betting companies are required to enact policies and the associated procedures for detecting duplicate accounts.
- Using credit cards to place bets has now been banned as it can tempt a problem gambler to wager more than they can actually afford to. E-wallets can still be used which are connected to credit cards although those companies that provide the e-wallet service must make sure that the credit cards are not used for gambling.
- Operators which target VIP or high value customers are now subject to new rules laid out by the Gambling Commission. Affordability checks must be made and any associated risks assessed. All VIP’s must have their occupations verified as well as having their source of funds verified before any VIP status is offered along with the cashback, free bets and special prizes.
- Another important change to the Gambling Act of 2005 is that it is now mandatory for all online operators to join the national online self-exclusion scheme which is called ‘Gamestop.’ As operators use this measure it is hoped that even greater numbers of problem gamblers can be prevented from actually accessing gambling platforms.
- In 2021 the UK raised the age limit for those who play either scratch cards or the National Lottery from 16 to 21.
- Advertising images that are considered to be ‘normalising’ gambling will be further restricted than they are currently and this is hoped to help the vulnerable, including children.
It is accepted that change takes time but it is hoped that the future, and more comprehensive Gambling Act will be in full force by 2022.
