UK manager caught gambling, UKGC fines operator six figures, and affordability checks cleared up. All in the latest UK Gambling News in September 2023. (Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay)
One of the world’s most active and heavily regulated gambling entertainment industries is in the UK. Close to one-third of the nation participates in gambling. You can imagine the UK Gambling Authority has its work cut out for it, and the speculation over the recent UK white paper has not helped.
In the UK gambling news in September 2023, we have seen the affordability checks topic touched upon once again. This time with the British horse racing community as the UKGC rectifies what it calls misinformation. Suddenly, the evil empire isn’t that evil when you look at the projected figure. Although this is great news, let’s wait and see what prevails.
And as the UKGC is player-focused, it will often be accused of being too strict for those who like to rebel against authority. One such instance is its fining process, but these fines bring operators in the country in line so we, as players, are protected. Hence, the authority recently paid a £ 690,947 fine to one unlucky operator.
To finish off the latest gossip in the UK so far this month, news of the British manager under fire for breaking FA rules and placing bets on sports has come to a close as the FA decides not to take the matter further.
See further UK gambling news: A couple of days ago, the UKGC Industry Forum news report also showed how the gambling authority tries to understand operators and the industry better and make communication more transparent.
UKGC Reaches Out to Horse Racing Enthusiasts Regarding Affordability Check Misinformation
Probably the one community that has fought back the hardest amid the UKGC’s affordability check proposal is horse racing. This sport and those who bet on it come with a following just as diverse as the online casino industry. However, they also appear to have more of a voice as the racetrack community is close-knit, with a bellowing voice on the overall gambling entertainment scene in the UK.
You can imagine the noise these groups made at racetracks and online. As a result, the UKGC has felt the need to reach out via the Racing Post – the UK’s go-to media resource for all things horse racing. However, the UKGC has said that the community’s loudly heard pushback was due to misinformation.
Media outlets said that all bettors would face affordability checks. However, the percentage of gamblers who will trigger KYC checks is only around 0.3%.
Earlier this month, on 10 September, I published a new report covering the exact 0.3% figure. You can read the full news report – UKGC White Paper Clarification for Affordability Checks, for a full explanation.
UKGC Issues £ 690,947 Regulatory Fine
Operator Lindar Media Limited, which runs the MrQ gambling entertainment site operations, may have to dish out a 6-figure sum to the UK Gambling Commission. The UKGC has said that the money from fines it applies to operators for regulatory framework failures go to socially responsible causes.
Some of the issues the UKGC alleges Lindar Media failed to comply with were:
- Failure to implement processes that avoid Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing.
- Failure to follow AML guidance laid out by the UK regulatory authority.
- Not reporting changes in some of the company’s key employment positions.
- I am failing to meet notification specifications for offices used by management (a little confusing this one!).
- Not meeting the requirements that can help identify persons at risk of problem gambling.
- We are not contributing to problem gambling under the UKGC rules.
- It was circulating advertisements that were not compliant with UKGC’s strict promotion laws.
The full report of all fines issues is available in the UKGC public statement here.
English Football Manager Escapes FA Wrath Over Alleged Betting Scandal
The FA has not cleared the unnamed UK football manager of any wrongdoing in a recent betting scam investigation but instead decided not to take further action.
Their name is under lock and key per a court order. Yet, British media reports say the manager in question placed bets and suffered substantial losses. The let-off has caused outrage in the comments columns of tabloids and newspapers reporting on the decision not to punish the manager in light of the lengthy ban handed out to Ivan Tony.
For many sports betting fans, a bet is a bet. However, others use systems that work and players or managers who corrupt the system for personal gain anger the betting community. Why wealthy stars need to earn more or help close friends and affect the general public is not fair.
Although many have come out supporting Ivan Tony, a Brentford player recently banned over a betting scandal, plenty feel the ban is fair.
All UKGC casinos with sports betting are available in a table on the UK online casino page under the UK Betting Casinos section of the guide.
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