UKGC proposes changes to online gambling operations

For online gambling operators in the UK, a raft of new regulatory changes could be coming soon. The changes that are currently on the table are being proposed based on a report from the UK Gambling Commission that was published last month.

Now it should be noted that as of now these are strictly recommendations, with the industry being given until January of next year to discuss the points that the report has put forward. In general the new proposals are directed towards introducing several standards in terms of layout and display of information that are geared towards providing a greater level of consumer protection across the industry.

The changes proposed by the Gambling commission are as follows:

1. Standardised approach to how all customer balances and transactions are displayed across all UKGC licensed operators

2. Display of account activity including deposits and withdrawals with gaming operators

3. Reduced levels information displayed for smaller screens such as mobile devices.

4. 4. Clear display of Gambling Commission issued licenses on all operator sites linked to the UKGC

5. 5. Clear display of transactions, particularly when dealing with variable odds such as sports betting with information regarding odds changes.

6. 6. Game version identifiers have been proposed to be made visible to all users to expedite the reporting and resolution of customer complaints

7. Closer monitoring to ensure that the odds of payouts and potential returns are in line with expectations based on the odds and returns that the operator is advertising. It should be noted that this only applies to games of chance rather than skill such as Blackjack or Poker

8. Non-monetary games to follow the same rules as those that involve real money

9. New and emerging game designs that offer increased returns based on time played were observed to result in what was described as ‘negative behaviour’, it was proposed that the methods used to draw in new players for such games must be reviewed.

10. Peer-to-peer poker proposals call for a robust monitoring system to detect and penalise cheaters.

11. Third party software, while not out rightly banned by the UKGC is often banned on an operator to operator basis. This proposal would require operators to clearly display what Third party software would be considered unacceptable.

12. Financial Limits would allow players to set self imposed limits on how much they could spend either by session or within a set time-frame

13. Reality check that conform to expectations of social responsibility. This could be implemented at both the player and operator level, though it is unclear what form such a measure would take

14. Progressive jackpots would need to be subject to greater oversight regarding their ceilings and when they would refresh if not awarded.

15. Live dealer studios would enable online players to gamble at physical casino events that are run by human staff

16. Virtual sports odds, changes here would see the odds clearly displayed as well as the main odds for who will win.

17. Information Security Standards will seek to reduce the risk of data theft or cyber attacks to customers as a result of playing at an operator site

Once the Gambling Commission has collected feedback from the industry it intends to review the matter and will make and changes to the proposed rules as it deems suitable and will then pass on these proposed changes to the European Union. Assuming no objections are raised, these changes could be implemented by mid 2017.

Most experts agree that most of the proposed changes should go with little resistance, since the general consensus is that the industry does not find the terms particularly repugnant. However it will be a few months before we know for certain.