Licensing Expert

David Clifton: Licensing Expert – William Hill this week…Who will it be next week?

SBC News David Clifton: Licensing Expert – William Hill this week...Who will it be next week?

The Gambling Commission has found “systemic” failings within the AML and social responsibility processes of WHG (International) Limited (that trades as William Hill Online). Those failings resulted in it repeatedly, over a 21 month period between 2014 and 2016, breaching (a) its licence condition requiring compliance with the Money Laundering Regulations 2007 and (b) LCCP social responsibility code provision 3.4.1 (customer interaction) in its dealings …

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David Clifton: Licensing Expert – Win or lose…do it fairly!

SBC News David Clifton: Licensing Expert – Win or lose...do it fairly!

The Competition and Markets Authority and the Gambling Commission have been working together since October 2016 to stamp out unfair terms and conditions of, and misleading practices by, UK licensed online gambling operators. As anticipated from a speech given by CMA Project Director George Lusty at last November’s Gambling Commission “Raising Standards” conference, things have now come to a head …

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David Clifton: Licensing Expert – A potentially lethal parting shot

SBC News David Clifton: Licensing Expert – A potentially lethal parting shot

Sarah Harrison departs from her position as Chief Executive of the Gambling Commission at the end of February 2018. Before she goes, she is leaving a potentially lethal parting shot for a substantial number of operators within the gambling industry.. I am referring to the Commission’s letter sent to all of its licensed online casino operators on 4 January, in which …

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David Clifton: Licensing Expert – Last chance saloon

SBC News David Clifton: Licensing Expert - Last chance saloon

In all my 35 years advising the UK’s gambling industry I can think of no time when it has been so besieged with adverse criticism from the Government, the Parliamentary Opposition, regulators, the media and the general public alike.  Clearly opinions on gambling (whether justified, exaggerated or prejudiced) expressed in the media heavily influence public opinion. The opinions expressed by …

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David Clifton: Licensing Expert – Death knell sounded for FOBTs?

SBC News David Clifton: Licensing Expert – Death knell sounded for FOBTs?

On 31 October, Gambling Minister Tracey Crouch announced the launch of a 12-week consultation on proposals for changes to gaming machines and social responsibility measures that will run until 23 January 2018. The consultation covers Government proposals relating to: maximum stakes and prizes for all categories of gaming machines permitted under the Gambling Act 2005 (including a reduction in the maximum stakes …

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David Clifton: Licensing Expert – What to do if you received “that letter”…

SBC News David Clifton: Licensing Expert - What to do if you received "that letter"...

In my recent SBC News article “Be mindful of protecting children”, I commented on the Sunday Times article entitled “Cartoons lure kids to online gambling”,  published on 8 October. I had no knowledge that at the same time I was writing that, the Gambling Commission had joined forces with the Committee of Advertising Practice, the Advertising Standards Authority and the Remote …

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David Clifton: Licensing Expert – Be mindful of protecting children

SBC News David Clifton: Licensing Expert – Be mindful of protecting children

As I write this, we await the Government’s review of gaming machines and social responsibility measures that is due to be published later this month, according to comments by the Secretary of State when she appeared before the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee on 11 October. She added that this would be followed by a full 12-week consultation that …

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David Clifton: Licensing Expert – Assessing a month of mounting challenges for the betting industry.

SBC News David Clifton: Licensing Expert – Assessing a month of mounting challenges for the betting industry.

August 2017 was not a kind month for the online gambling sector. David Clifton breaks down three standout events that have placed social responsibility practices at the forefront of industry debate and concerns…. _______________________ There are three standout stories in the betting licensing and regulatory sphere from the last month. There is a common social responsibility thread running through all …

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David Clifton – Don’t gamble on your affiliates

Glazier - Copyright: kentoh / 123RF Stock Photo

In my December 2016 article for SBC News, I wrote about affiliates coming into the ICO’s firing line, which in turn leaves gambling operators facing liability for affiliates’ data protection misdemeanours – a situation that will hit home even harder when the recently announced Data Protection Bill is published by Parliament and, subsequently, when the General Data Protection Regulation comes …

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David Clifton: Licensing Expert – Grave new world order for British gambling operators

SBC News David Clifton: Licensing Expert – Grave new world order for British gambling operators

At the end of May, Tim Miller, Executive Director at the UK’s Gambling Commission made a speech at the IAGA International Gaming Summit in New York. Just over a month later, the Commission unveiled its new enforcement strategy, intended “to ensure operators put customers first and raise standards” in the words of Sarah Harrison, the Commission’s Chief Executive. These two …

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