UKGC highlights vital feedback of Lived Experience Advisory Panel

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has hosted the first meeting of its ‘Lived Experience Advisory Panel’ providing first-hand accounts and insights on gambling harms, risks and addictions.

Beginning in June, the Commission has been working to establish a ‘lived experience group’ to form part of its wider ‘Experts by Experience’ group, providing advice and recommendations on the development of UKGC’s safer gambling policy.

Launching its initiative, the regulator stated that its research and policy teams required personal insights from those who have suffered from problem gambling.

Commission CEO Neil McArthur remarked that “lived experience feedback” had already led to progress on consultations related to games design, customer interaction and affordability.  

He stated: “The establishment of this group is a great step forward for us in our work in making gambling safer and building our understanding of harm and its impacts.  

“As already proven by the input of the Interim Group, the views and perspectives of Lived Experience in our decision making is invaluable and is already having a positive impact in our work in addressing gambling-related harm.”

Moving forward, the lived experience panel will join the UKGC’s advisory board on safer gambling and will further consult the Commission’s ‘Digital Advisory’ on developing further consumer protections.

As the UK gambling’s regulatory authority, the UKGC stated that it had a duty to ensure that it received the broadest of feedback influencing its policy development.

Commission Chairman William Moyes commented: “I welcome today’s announcement of the permanent Lived Experience Advisory Panel, which is a positive step towards better understanding harms caused by gambling.

“By collaborating with those with lived experience, friends, families and communities we can make faster progress to reduce gambling harms.”

A spokesperson on behalf of the Lived Experience Advisory Panel said: “We are pleased that the Gambling Commission has recognised the importance of listening to people who have been harmed by gambling and welcome their real commitment to ensuring that this can happen.

“The creation of this group creates a real opportunity for the voice of those with lived experience to support and influence the work of the Gambling Commission. We are a diverse group of people and bring a wide range skills and personal experience of gambling harm. We take this role seriously and look forward to working together as a group to make progress in tackling gambling harm.”