Issuing a market statement, the governance of London AIM-listed online gambling group Stride Gaming Plc has clarified its strategic position/intent, following media reports that it seeks an outright sale of the business. Stride governance confirms that at present ‘all strategic options are being considered’ with a view to maximising shareholder value, including – i) implementing an aggressive UK and international …
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UKGC boosting online safety with new age verification standards
The Gambling Commission has released a new set of rules, ensuring that operators implement a new wave of age verifications checks “to make gambling safer and fairer”. Following an open consultation, and to further guard against the risk of children gambling, new rules mean operators must verify customer age before they can either deposit funds into an account or gamble with …
Read More »Industry taken to task over use of ‘gagging orders’ in settlements
The Gambling Commission has warned the gambling industry that the indiscriminate use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in settlements with customers over problem gambling issues will not be tolerated. Last year, stories broke in the national media about some major bookmakers adding ‘gagging orders’ to deals with their customers preventing them from going to the Commission with a complaint against any …
Read More »UK Gambling commission and NHS Wales back improved problem-gambling services
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has teamed up with a range of organisations across Wales with a view to provide and improve support to those who are susceptible to gambling-related harms. At the meeting in Cardiff, 30 representatives took part in a round table discussion, addressing the provision of treatment and prevention services, public health messaging, gambling venues and extending …
Read More »Winning Post – Regulation… Are We Bettor Balanced?
Publishing its latest industry opinion, strategic consultancy Regulus Partners details that sector leadership needs to carefully balance the right narrative/debate on tackling the delicate and complex matter of problem gambling… __________________ The hair shirt is this season’s must-have fashion item for the well-dressed gambling executive, and this week was the turn of the GVC executive team to adopt sackcloth and …
Read More »Rank Group becomes first operator to trial Experian ‘affordability check’ tool
Global consumer comparisons and credit score data provider Experian has launched the industry’s first ‘affordability check’ tool, helping operators’ asses, identify and better understand customer risks, behaviours and affordability. In its product notes, Experian details that the affordability check tool becomes valid at the ‘most appropriate point for customers’, helping betting firms identify account changes or specific behaviours that may …
Read More »BBC report reveals GamStop & MOSES self-exclusion failures
UK gambling has suffered an embarrassing weekend, as national media reports that the safeguards of GamStop – the sector’s online self-exclusion scheme – have been breached by problem gamblers. On Sunday 13 January, the BBC ‘Five Live Investigates’ program revealed that problem gamblers registered on the GamStop scheme had been able to circumvent exclusion provisions by simply changing minor details when registering with …
Read More »DCMS calls for a review & evidence on credit wagering
Jeremy Wright, the UK Secretary of State for the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), is set to review gambling’s relationship with debt/credit transactions. In a move to develop a more socially responsible sector, Wright and DCMS will summon gambling and retail banking leadership, discussing government and social concerns on debt/credit funded wagers. UK news sources report that government …
Read More »UKGC reappoints Trevor Pearce to board of commissioners
Industry watchdog UK Gambling Commission has confirmed its reappointment of Trevor Pearce to the Board of Commissioners for a second term of four years, from July 1 2019 to June 30 2023. Pearce has 40 years of prior experience in law enforcement with the Kent County Constabulary as well as the National Crime Squad, Serious Organised Crime Agency, and National …
Read More »UKGC’s AML guidance places high responsibility on industry officers
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) begins 2019’s legislative agenda publishing its industry guidance on ‘preventing money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism – (fourth edition)’. The UKGC’s report is led by the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a European Union inter-governmental body responsible for setting international standards on anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CTF) frameworks and …
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