The end of November saw the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) publish the latest industry statistics and information on each sector of the local gambling market. Apart from that, the gambling regulatory authority of the UK also unveiled its strategy for the period 2018/2021.

The watchdog revealed that it is to remain committed to making gambling safe, fair and transparent to all parties on the market. At the time when it issued its three-year strategy, the UK gambling regulatory body reiterated its goal for keeping crime away from the local gambling industry, as well as to protect both customers and the wider public from possible gambling-related harm.

So, the UK Gambling Commission presented its vision for keeping a well-regulated gambling market in the period from 2018 to 2021 and revealed its major objectives for the upcoming years.

Industry Statistics Revealed by the UKGC

According to data, revealed by the British gambling regulator, currently there are approximately 50 million people who are over 16 years of age, and 63% of them have gambled over the past year. In addition, a serious decline in the trust that wider public has in gambling was reported, after only 34% of the population said that the gambling industry was fair and trustworthy, in comparison to 49% of population in 2008.

The UK Gambling Commission also shared that there were 32 million gamblers in the country, with 29% of them betting on the National Lottery only, while 71% preferred other types of gambling activities. In addition, it turned out that 18% of population gambled online, while 29% of online players preferred their mobile phones to place bets.

As far as problem gambling is concerned, 2 million people in the UK have been put at risk from becoming gambling addicts. A total of 0.8% of the country’s population has been classified as problem gamblers, with men being more likely to be classed as problem gamblers than women. The total number of problem gamblers in the UK amounted to 0.4 million, according to the data announced by the UK Gambling Commission.

UKGC Reveals New Three-Year Strategy

As mentioned above, the UK Gambling Commission once again confirmed its engagement to protect both customers and the wider public from eventual gambling-related harm. The gambling regulatory body shared that the right balance between consumer choice and enjoyment should be found in order to prevent the possible negative effects that could be inflicted to society as a result from gambling.

The Commission provided its vision for the UK gambling market, revealing its three-year strategy. The watchdog shared that it is aimed at ensuring a fairer and safer environment for local players. It reiterated its mission to prevent local gambling market from being associated with any criminal activity, protecting the local customers by making sure they are provided with fair and transparent services and protecting children and more vulnerable individuals from being affected by any gambling-related harm. Apart from that, the UKGC is to also remain focused on ensuring that the National Lottery is operated in such a way that it guarantees propriety, protection of customers’ interests as well as an increase in the proceeds generated.

Five Strategic Priorities Revealed by the UKGC

The UK Gambling Commission has revealed five strategic priorities that are set to be deliver over the upcoming three-year period.

The Commission explained that it is set to protect customers’ interests, to prevent gambling-related harm be inflicted to players and the wider public, to raise the gambling market standards, to optimise returns that are brought to good causes from lotteries and last but not least, to improve the way it regulates the local gambling industry.

Protection of Consumers’ Interests

One of the paramount priorities which the UK Gambling Commission has set for the upcoming three years, is to keep consumers’ interests well-protected. According to the UK gambling regulatory watchdog, customers need to be provided with enough information in order to make informed choices when gambling.

That is exactly the reason why the Commission is aimed at making information and controls accessible and more meaningful for consumers in order to help the latter better control their gambling. The gambling regulatory body further explained that it will take care of providing players with confidence they gamble in a stable and safe environment, in which the risk of gambling-related harm is minimised.

The Gambling Commission explained that it intends to improve consumer understanding about the gambling products they are offered and the risks associated with gambling. The watchdog is to also provide customers with more power and control in order to better manage their gambling and ensure greater transparency. The UKGC further explained that it is to review and bolster unfair and misleading practices, and will also work in collaboration with other customer protection regulatory bodies in order to do that in the best possible way.

The regulator also aims to improve its own understanding of the level and risks of illegal gambling in the UK, and work to prevent those risks in order to tackle problem gambling.

Prevent Customers and Wider Public from Gambling-Related Harm

Negative effects associated with gambling are widely-known as gambling-related harm. The latter is usually associated with damage inflicted not only to individuals and their families, but also to communities in general. Fully understanding the risks that gambling could brings for customers and the wider public, the Commission plans to focus on the prevention of gambling-related harm and ensuring efficient support and gambling addictions treatment to anyone who need it.

As shared by the UK Gambling Commission, this strategic priority is closely related to the National Responsible Gambling Strategy. The UK gambling regulatory authority confirmed its intention to continue working in collaboration with the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board and GambleAware, both of which provide the Commission with their expertise and advice.

As part of this key priority in its three-year strategy, the UK Gambling Commission intends to take prevention to a whole new level in order to do what is necessary to reduce gambling-related harm. the watchdog is to focus on helping customers manage their gambling and make sure that all gambling services available are well-controlled.

As mentioned above, tackling gambling-related harm is to be among the top priorities over the 2018/2021 period, with the Commission aimed at influencing and working together with the industry customers, expert agencies, as well as with the wider public. In addition, the gambling regulatory watchdog also intends to work with partners in order to raise the awareness of gambling-related harm and its impact on society. It is to also to invest in preventative measures, effective education and of course, in better gambling addiction treatment services.

Raising the UK Gambling Market Standards

The gambling regulatory body of the country revealed that more needs to be done in terms of the ways used by local gambling operators to provide their customers with fair and safe play and to keep crime and money-laundering away from the country’s market.

The UK Gambling Commission shared that it intends to require operators to design the products they offer to customers by considering crime prevention methods. The regulator also intends to make gambling companies become more engaged with some existing protections such as self-exclusion options. of course, setting minimum requirements beyond the ones which are included in the Licence conditions and codes of practice.

The UKGC further shared that over the period from 2018 to 2021 it is to develop and regularly publish research, analysis and risk assessments and would expect operators to not only cooperate, but also design their policies in a way that would help customers feel well-protected in the market.

The main regulator of the UK gambling industry also shared that it would use its full range of enforcement powers and impose sanctions on all operators that do not make the necessary efforts to understand the risks of gambling or fail to protect customers the way they are supposed to, as well as the ones that negligently or deliberately do not comply with the regulatory requirements.

Optimising the Returns That Good Causes Get from Lotteries

Currently, lotteries and more specifically the National Lottery, are some of the greatest contributors to society. Lotteries have always been an important way used for generating funds for good causes. The UK Gambling Commission revealed that in the ended September 2016 that the National Lottery made a contribution amounting to approximately £1.7 billion to good causes.

The Commission further revealed that over 500 society lotteries operate under a license granted by it, with them generating contributions of more than £230 million to good causes.

So, in order to optimise the returns that lotteries are to bring to good causes in the UK, the country’s gambling watchdog intends to keep the integrity of the National Lottery during the remaining years of its licence that is to expire in 2023. The UK Gambling Commission also explained that it is to shape an effective and robust competition for the National Lottery in the long term. It is also to consider if any more changes need to be made in order to make sure that society lotteries would be able to still make important contributions to good causes and the society.

The Commission is to also work on the preparation for the next licence of the National Lottery, including taking into consideration what developments could be made for better compliance with the licence requirements. Of course, the regulatory body is to remain engaged with the range of National Lottery’s stakeholders, including customers and the wider public and community.

Improving Its Own Regulation

Last but not least, the UK Gambling Commission shared that efficient regulation is one of the key factors that provides better customer and society protection, and a well-regulated market offers more stability and is more trustworthy. The watchdog revealed that it aims to guarantee a safe, reliable, fair and transparent gambling industry to all players, so it intends to make larger investments in its own capabilities as a regulator in order to improve its regulatory approach and methods.

To do that the Commission is to take into consideration the entire market and take a long-term viewin order to guarantee the best efficiency. The regulator remains committed to delivering its services effectively, so it would develop its ways of working, too.

A risk-based approach is also to be applied, an intervention is to be made whenever necessary to guarantee the efficiency of the Commission’s actions. Data and information is to be set as priority, while improvements in the regulatory framework in response to some existing and new circumstances are also to be brought.

European Gaming Media and Events will include special reports and briefings about responsible gambling programs during the upcoming conferences.