The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) latest poll conducted by YouGov suggests 79% of gamblers believe stricter affordability checks in the UK gambling industry may lead to a rise in unregulated gambling. The report revealed customers are likely to turn to black market gambling sites if they are unable to pass affordability checks.The UK gambling industry is regulated by the Gambling Commission, which is tasked with ensuring operators are following strict rules and regulations to protect customers from problem gambling.One of the key checks operators are required to do is to conduct affordability checks before allowing customers to deposit. These affordability checks are designed to ensure customers are not gambling more than they can afford and to identify any signs of problem gambling.
Stricter Affordability Checks
However, recent discussions have suggested affordability checks need to be made even more strict. The BGC reveals many customers are in favour of affordability checks, but concerns have been raised that making affordability checks more invasive could potentially push customers to the unregulated gambling market.
Impact on the Industry
The impact of stricter checks on the UK gambling industry could be significant. Unregulated gambling is already a problem in the UK, and a rise in unregulated gambling could lead to more people experiencing problem gambling. It would also have an impact on the revenue created by the regulated industry which currently supports 110,000 jobs, generates £7.1 billion to the economy and contributes £4.2 billion in tax contributions.
Concerns about the Black Market
There are concerns regarding the black market in the UK, and the dangers it poses to consumers. Unregulated operators are not subject to the same rules and regulations compared to their regulated counterparts, which means customers are not protected from fraudulent activities and gambling-related harms.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the BGC poll reveals customers are in favour of affordability checks in the UK, however, there are huge concerns over the severity of affordability checks proposed by regulators which could lead to a rise in unregulated gambling.This could have a significant impact on the industry and could potentially put customers at risk of dangers associated with gambling on the black market. The industry and regulators need to work together to find a solution that protects customers while also ensuring the sustainability of the regulated industry.
FAQs
*What are affordability checks in the UK gambling industry?Affordability checks are conducted by gambling operators to ensure that customers are not gambling more than they can afford and to identify any signs of problem gambling.*Why are affordability checks important?Affordability checks are important because they help to protect customers from problem gambling and ensure that they are not gambling more than they can afford.*What is unregulated gambling?Unregulated gambling is a reference to gambling which is not subject to the same rules and regulations as regulated gambling. These sites often have no licensing which means they are not monitored and regulated by authorities whose job it is to protect players’ safety, security and gambling-related harms.*Why are unregulated gambling sites dangerous?Unregulated gambling sites are dangerous because customers are not protected from problem gambling or fraudulent activities and may be at risk of losing their money without any recourse.*What can be done to prevent customers from turning to unregulated gambling?The industry and regulators need to work closely together in finding a solution that both protects customers whilst ensuring the sustainability of the regulated industry. This could involve finding a balance between affordability checks and customer choice, ensuring customers have access to regulated operators that provide a safe and responsible gambling environment.