Gambling Act Review draws mixed reactions; CEOs discuss affordability checks. White Paper praised for regulatory advances, but concerns about intrusive checks remain. (Photo by Anna Nekrashevich on Pexels)
Now everyone has had enough time to read through the 166-page ‘Advice to Government – Review of the Gambling Act 2005 – Published April 2023 opinions are still running hot.
In this news report (opinion piece) we’ll look at what the CEOs of GambleAware, Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), and Online Betting Guide (OLBG) have to say, and what I think of the white paper as a journalist and online casino, sports betting, and poker player.
The white paper includes the following sections: ‘Online Protections, Players and Products’, ‘Safer Gambling and Public Health Messaging’, ‘Advertising’, ‘Marketing and Sponsorship’, ‘The Gambling Commission’s Power and Resources’, ‘Funding for Wider Research’, ‘Prevention and Treatment’, ‘Consumer Redress’, ‘Age limits and Verification’, ‘Protections for young adults’, and ‘Land-based gambling’.
Across the entire white paper, most reactions are positive, including mine. It is an impressive document, but with 166 pages, it’s quite the pamphlet. However, I have managed to dissect it as well as stay up to date with the various comments made across the industry.
What is your opinion? Please let us know in the comments what your thoughts are regarding affordability checks!
OLBG CEO Highlights Importance of Unobtrusive Checks
Richard Moffat, OLBG’s (Online Betting Guide) CEO, explains that the success of affordability checks hinges on their inconspicuousness. If customers barely notice the checks, they are unlikely to be deterred from betting. However, if the checks are more intrusive, survey results indicate that players may become dissatisfied.
However, a considerable number of bettors have already voiced opposition to affordability checks. They will need to be pretty darn inconspicuous!
A recent YouGov survey shows that 65% of participants stated they would not comply!
As mentioned in a previous report, 19.4 million people gamble in the UK. That means 12.61 million gamblers in the country are against it – however, read on as it may not be as bad as first anticipated!
UK Casinos Affected by Affordability Checks
(All UK Casinos)
William Hill
888Casino
Platin Casino
LeoVegas Casino
NetBet Casino
Mr Green Casino
My Reaction to the White Paper!
I have to say, the white paper really sets the UK regulation apart from other countries.
- The positives: It includes preventing advertising that can reach children, controlling age limits and verifying players, treating those with gambling addiction, and even making clear the power the UKGC does and does not have. A job well done!
- The Negatives (This really stands out): Where the white paper falls short is in section 1 -: ‘Online protections, Players, and Products’. It’s nice to see that we don’t need to look too far down to find out more about the most hotly debated topic – affordability checks. This is where you will find information covering the mandatory affordability checks for bettors, eliciting mixed responses from industry players.
These checks focus on triggering affordability checks at two key spending thresholds:
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- Moderate levels of spend: Net losses of £125 per month or £500 per year
- Binge Levels: Net losses of £1,000 within a single day or £2,000 over 90 days.
If 65% of gamblers from a sample survey reject, how many will really be affected from the 19.4 million that gamble in the UK?
- 9% of gamblers bet daily, and 17.5% bet once a month
- 23.4% spend under £5 a month (4.5 million)
- 22.2% spend between £5 and £15 a month (4.3 million)
- 14.7% spend between £15 and £50 a month (2.9 million)
Around 11.7 million will likely never face affordability checks. That leaves 7.7 million people, and 65% are likely to reject affordability checks. The government is dealing with around 5 million people. I am sure the numbers get smaller as we raise above the £5 and £15 a month threshold.
In my opinion, these are still dangerously high figures and as I said in the original ‘UK White Paper Released‘ news report, £125 per month of losses to trigger affordability checks is still dangerously low and still doesn’t make the prospect of avoiding a bubble in the black market (non-UK casino) zone any better.
GambleAware’s CEO Urges Swift Implementation
Zoë Osmond, the CEO of GambleAware, has applauded the Gambling White Paper as a significant advancement in regulatory measures. However, she also stresses the urgency of implementing the proposed actions. Osmond highlights that the paper fails to address the need for stricter regulation of gambling advertising and marketing, especially in terms of child protection. GambleAware is committed to working hand-in-hand with the government to establish a society devoid of gambling-related harm.
BGC’s Proactive Involvement in Reforms Brings Positive a Positive Response
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has shown a strong commitment to collaborating with the government in formulating a series of reforms.
Among these is the introduction of seamlessly enhanced expenditure checks, the establishment of a new Ombudsman to handle consumer complaints, and the updating of UK casino regulations. Furthermore, the BGC supports the introduction of the statutory levy of 1% of all gambling companies in the country pay out of their revenue. The money will ensure consistent and transparent funding for research, education, and treatment of gambling-related problems.
Final Thoughts on the Gambling White Paper
The Gambling White Paper presents an extensive array of measures aimed at mitigating gambling harms and fostering a more transparent and responsible industry. The effectiveness of these reforms will depend on efficient execution and collaboration between the gambling sector and the government. Much of the content does make sense, and is well received.
Stumbling Block: I do believe that the stumbling point is the affordability checks. They are too low for my liking and the numbers at risk of abstaining from UKGC casinos are to high to risk such low triggers. Find out more about the UK White Paper PDF here.
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