UK government launch Gambling Act review with Call for Evidence from UKGC

The Department for Digital,?Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)?initiated?the Gambling Act Review?by publishing?the Gambling Act 2005?Call for Evidence; investigating online restrictions, marketing and?the role of the?UK?Gambling Commission?(UKGC)?in the review of gambling laws.??

Call for Evidence??

On 8 December, the DCMS launched their Call for Evidence; the result could be the most?impactful?reform of the UK gaming market?since the Blair?government.?

The?UKGC?announced that the Call for Evidence will run until 31 March 2021.?Additionally, the DCMS?published it’s ‘terms of?reference’?highlighting?the scope of their investigation:?

“We welcome evidence from all parties with an interest in the way that gambling is regulated in Great Britain. We also welcome international evidence”.?

Moreover, their call for evidence includes but is?not?limited to:?information regarding online?protections?of players and?products, advertising,?sponsorship?and branding, age?limits?and verification,?and the Gambling?Commissions’?powers and resources.??

Is the Gambling Act 2005 still relevant?

One of the key areas of interest has been whether the Gambling Act 2005 is relevant in an age where the market?has evolved technologically at rapid speed.??

Oliver Dowden, Secretary of State for DCMS?responding?to this notion stated:?

Whilst millions gamble responsibly, the Gambling Act is an analogue law in a digital age. From an era of having a flutter in a high street bookmaker, casino, racecourse or seaside pier, the industry has evolved at breakneck speed”

Protecting young people from?gambling?harm?

Another important area of concern is in relation to young people and the extent?to?which they are?protected?under the current Act.?The government?announced?that the national lottery?minimum?age?would?be raised?from 16 to?18?years of age?in bid to protect?young people from gambling harm.??

Dowen adds:?

This builds upon our clear track record of introducing tough measures to protect people from the risk of gambling harm – banning the use of credit cards, launching tighter age verification checks and cutting the maximum stake on fixed odds betting terminals.

Furthermore, this age?restriction?will be extended to online gambling as a reaction to the surge in?the?number of players as a result of COVID-19 shifting players from land-based?to?online?gambling. The DCMS stated that the change will?take effect in April 2021.?

Sports?sponsorships?to end??

Tighter restrictions could mean?the end?sports sponsorships?according to?SportsPro.??

The DCMS wrote in the terms of reference:?“What is the positive or negative impact of gambling sponsorship arrangements across sports, esports and other areas?”.

Undeniably, the betting sector contributes significantly to the financials of professional football,?with?over?￡40 million?in payments. Sports sponsorship bans could be?detrimental?to the financial health of clubs, especially after COVID-19.??

Danger on the horizon?for blockchain?and crypto users?

The government has noted interest in uncovering the potential risk blockchain and?crypto currencies could pose to gamblers?stating?in their terms of reference:?

“What evidence, if any, is there to suggest that new and emerging technologies, delivery and payment methods such as blockchain and crypto currencies could pose a particular risk to gambling consumers?”?

UKGC show their support?

CEO of the?UKGC, Niel McArthur commented on the news stating:?

We welcome the government’s Review of the Gambling Act which will also consider our powers and resources. Our job is to make gambling safer and the Review creates an opportunity to build on the progress we have made to protect players and the public – such as strengthened age and identity verification, strict new guidance for so-called VIP schemes and banning gambling with credit cards.?

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McArthur adds that the Gambling Commission will support?the?Call for Evidence stating:?

As the statutory adviser to the Secretary of State we look forward to contributing our advice to help with the government’s Review and we will continue our close working relationship with DCMS as the Review proceeds. We’ve made it clear to gambling operators that we will continue to work at pace to take action to protect consumers while the Review of the Gambling Act is underway.

Verdict?

Ultimately, the review of the Gambling Act 2005 will cause a major shift in the way the?industry?is?currently?operating, with changes for sports, regulation, the online industry and?sponsorship?deals.?

The news comes after the UK had just reopened it’s land-based casinos following a second national lockdown.

Article originally appeared on:?https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/news-action-and-statistics/News/gambling-commission-welcomes-publication-of-gambling-act-review-call-for-evidence

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