Tag Archives: Richard Hayler

Last week’s White Paper on UK gambling law reform contained numerous proposals for change, some of which were unexpected, others which were less surprising – such as the creation of an industry ombudsman. Establishment of a single body to handle customer complaints and redress was widely reported by several outlets, including the BBC, as a likely outcome of the review …

Two weeks after being hit with the largest regulatory penalty in UK betting history, Entain is now back under the legal spotlight, as reported by The Times. The paper reports that a high-staking bettor named Simon Rose placed wagers with Ladbrokes in the UK and UAE between 2015 and May 2016, and is now lodging a High Court claim against …

Affordability, marketing and a treatment levy have all been major talking points throughout the Gambling Act review – but the creation of an ombudsman has received less attention. Setting out its case last for why it should take on the role of official complaints and claims handler for the UK’s betting industry last week was the Independent Betting Adjudication Service …

The Independent Betting Adjudication Service (IBAS) has set out its case for becoming a potential UK Gambling Ombudsman, detailing operational and financial considerations.  Recognising the creation of a Gambling Ombudsman as a potential outcome of the Gambling Act review White Paper, the group asserted that it could take on the role ‘faster than any entirely new service could be created’ due …

Last Saturday’s light-welterweight title fight between Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall ended in a controversial decision, garnering criticism from boxers, pundits and fans alike.  Many felt that England’s Catterall had done enough to win the bout for the undisputed light-welterweight title fight – including Flutter Entertainment’s Paddy Power.  The bookmaker made the decision to offer all refunds to its customers …

IBAS – the Independent Betting Adjudication Service has welcomed the UK Gambling Commission’s (UKGC) decision to update its LCCP guidance on ‘fair terms and practices’. On Wednesday, the Commission notified stakeholders that it had updated its guidance to ensure that licensed operators provide customers with fair and transparent rules of play. The update was deemed necessary as the Commission has …

The decision by Manchester United to sack Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will not have come as a surprise to many fans, nonetheless, it created stir within sports betting markets.  Reports on Thursday that Ralf Rangnick would assume the position on an interim basis have not silenced bookmakers, with many pricing ‘Next Permanent Manager’ odds –  a market that commentators have observed …

SIS (Sports Information Services) has teamed up with the Racing Post to host a one-off Betting Shop Champion Awards, aimed at recognising the efforts of retail betting and gaming staff during the COIVD-19 pandemic. As with other sectors of the UK economy, the retail betting sector has been hard hit by lockdowns, with high street bookmakers forced to close their …

The Independent Betting Adjudication Service (IBAS) has published its annual report for the year 2019/20, reiterating calls for the creation of a gambling ombudsman to handle industry related complaints.  Overall, IBAS found that the volume of formal requests for adjudication were reduced by approximately 15%, largely attributed to the closure of betting shops, racecourses, casinos and bingo clubs, although the number …

Industry leadership, MPs and wider stakeholders are all in agreement that UK gambling requires a sector-specific ombudsman to rectify consumer concerns and reputation. Betting dispute and settlement expert Richard Hayler Managing Director of IBAS, underlines that the creation of an ombudsman will be no easy undertaking for participants who must understand and accommodate the intricacies of gambling products, practices and …