UK Gambling Review to focus on technical constraints as conflicts loom on final judgements\u00a0
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Speculation continues to mount on the pending outcomes of the government\u2019s review of the UK gambling sector, whose White Paper of Recommendations has been pushed back to July, by DCMS.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This morning, <\/span>The Times<\/i><\/b> and <\/span>Daily Mail<\/i><\/b><\/a><\/span> r<\/span>eported that PM <\/span>Boris Johnson<\/b> will maintain his 2019 General Election pledge of imposing significant curbs on the online gambling sector, needed to \u2018transform the UK into the safest place to be online in the world<\/span><\/em><\/a>\u2019<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n The media reports detailed that new controls would focus on applying technical constraints on online operators by imposing \u2013 \u201cmaximum stakes of between \u00a32 and \u00a35 for online casinos, a ban on free bets and VIP packages for those who incur heavy losses, and \u2018non-intrusive\u2019 affordability checks.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The above result would be deemed a negative outcome by online gambling operators that have lobbied for the government to exclude online wagering restrictions and ban promotional incentives.<\/span><\/p>\n Further technical controls will require operators \u2018to remove features from online games that increase the level of risk for customers\u2019 \u2013 a requirement that has been met by operators that have pledged to follow the <\/span>Betting and Gaming Council <\/b>(BGC) code-of-conduct on game design<\/span><\/p>\n Stringent monitoring of online incumbents will be undertaken by a strengthened <\/span>UK Gambling Commission<\/b> (UKGC) that will be \u201cgiven new powers and additional funding from an increase in fees paid by the industry\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n Further reforms will place consumer rights at the forefront of changes to the gambling sector, as customer disputes and challenges will be overseen by a \u2018new ombudsman\u2019 \u2013 a solution favoured by the majority of industry leaders.<\/span><\/p>\n Yet, the government\u2019s rumoured tightening of technical measures, will not please gambling reformists \u2013 as the government will \u2018drop plans to ban gambling companies from sponsoring Premier League football clubs\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n A ban on shirt sponsorships had been previously deemed as a guarantee of the Gambling Review, that would serve as the government\u2019s most visible industry reform to the public.<\/span><\/p>\n The change of stance follows direct feedback from the Premier League, which will instruct clubs to voluntarily refuse gambling sponsorships \u2013 allowing the government to keep a \u2018sponsorship ban in reserve\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n