The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has released a three-year, five-point plan of action designed to help strengthen the gambling market in the UK.The UKGC has made clear in recent years that its priority is the protection of ant-risk and vulnerable gamblers, with several fines handed out this year to operators who were deemed to not be doing that well enough.The new plan makes it clear that this will continue, stating that:“The Commission needs to balance consumer choice and enjoyment against the risks and impact gambling can have for individuals and wider society.”
The Five Points
There are five areas that the plan focuses on.Sanctions – As stated, the Commission has already begun dishing out hefty fans to those who do not do enough to protect problem gamblers, and this will continue, with tougher and broader sanctions to be imposed.Information – Obviously punishment is necessary, but so is education, and the second section of the plan sets out the UKGC’s intention to provide more information about the risks of gambling, and hammering home the importance of gambling responsibly.Standards – The next point is aimed at the standards of the gambling market, which the UKGC wants to improve as the industry continues its meteoric rise in popularity.Optimising Returns – The fourth point focuses on optimising the returns to good causes from lotteries. Much of the selling point of lotteries is their charitable donations and the UKGC wants to ensure these are correctly used.Improved regulation – The UKGC turns its attention on itself with point five, which seeks to improve the way the Commission itself regulates.Speaking of the plan, Commission chair Bill Moyes said:“In the same way that this strategy challenges the industry, we also challenge ourselves, as the regulator, to deliver effective, targeted and innovative regulation.”