UK Gambling Commission announced further plans to protect children

The Gambling Commission has set out further commitments to protecting children and young people from the dangers of gambling, building on work already underway in this area.

The Commission asked its expert advisers for specific advice on the critical theme of children, young people and gambling. Bringing together existing work and acting on the advice provided by the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board (RGSB), the Commission’s strengthened focus seeks to ensure the right protections are in place to reduce the risk of harm to children and young people.

The gambling regulator has called for all those responsible for safeguarding children, to work together with the Commission to address the wide range of issues identified in RGSB’s advice.

Actions are needed to address:

• access and exposure to gambling by children and young people
• digital and online risks
• preventative education and treatment
• evidence collection and consumer engagement.

Tim Miller, an Executive Director at the Gambling Commission, said: “We have a strong commitment to protecting children and young people from the harm gambling can pose – it’s at the heart of how we regulate. We asked our expert advisers, the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board, to consider this critical theme. The advice helps us to refocus and reinforce what we are doing already, and what we need to do next. For example, this year we will be carrying out targeted compliance and enforcement activity to identify and tackle any weaknesses in the age verification processes.

“Safeguarding children in a digital age is complex, and what both RGSB and our research has highlighted is that it takes a multi-faceted approach by us, government, educators, gambling firms and parents. It will take firm ongoing commitments from the Commission as gambling regulator, but also from all of those with a part to play.”

Source: Gambling Commission