The attention of all UK licensed gambling operators is drawn to a “Covid-19 emerging risks bulletin – May 2021” published today (28 May 2021) by the Gambling Commission, that looks at: innovations in cryptoassets, the quality of suspicious activity report (SAR) submissions, insufficient due diligence checks and the threat of organised crime. AML/CTF risk assessments together […]
In this month’s ‘Licensing Expert’ article for SBC News entitled “Time to assess the evidence” (accessible here), David Clifton comments on, amongst other things: the crucial need for the outcome of the U.K. Government’s Review of the Gambling Act 2005 to be about evidence not ideology, fact not fiction, the radical differences of opinion between ‘Peers for Gambling […]
The Gambling Commission publishes twice a year (in May and November): industry statistics on the size and shape of the gambling industry in Great Britain and the latest information on each industry sector that it regulates. It has today (27 May 2021) published its latest such statistics and information, that – unsurprisingly given the consequences flowing […]
‘Peers for Gambling Reform’ (“PGR”) have today (26 May 2021) published a report on the economic analysis of selected recommendations of the House of Lords Select Committee Report on the Social and Economic Impact of the Gambling Industry, eliciting an immediate and highly dismissive response from Betting & Gaming Council (“BGC”) Chief Executive Michael Dugher […]
The Gambling Commission has today (25 May 2021) provided an update on its Remote Customer Interaction Consultation (and accompanying Call for Evidence on “affordability thresholds and actions” for the remote gambling sector). Although the Commission intends to proceed with a future consultation on “thresholds for operators to take action and guidance on what those actions […]
On 14 July 2021 (at 1pm BST, 2pm CEST), David Clifton will be moderating the “UK – Biting the hand that feeds?” session as part of the Key Markets track at CasinoBeats Summit, that returns to Malta as part of Summer iGaming Week organised in partnership with KPMG and GamingMalta. Taking place at the InterContinental […]
On 18 May 2021, the Centre for Social Justice (“CSJ”) published an affordability-focused report entitled “Not a game: a call for effective protection from the harms of gambling”, containing a foreword by: the Chair of the Gambling Related Harm APPG (GRH APPG”), Carolyn Harris MP and one of that APPG’s Vice-Chairs, former UK Conservative Party […]
On 1 June 2021 David Clifton will be speaking at the East & West: New Wave Virtual iGaming Expo on the subject of “UK – All change ahead but who will follow?”. This session is billed as follows: The UK Government is reviewing its gambling legislation. The most directly affected sector is iGaming and […]
The Gambling Commission’s Acting Joint Chief Executive Sarah Gardner has today (20 May 2021) delivered a speech entitled “Reducing risks, tackling harms” at the Shard Financial Vulnerability Summit 2021, focusing on the Commission’s work to tackle vulnerability and gambling harm. You can download her speech below. Points of note include the following. 1. Problem gambling rates […]
A highly technical analysis conducted by the Advertising Standards Authority (with the benefit of advice from the Gambling Commission) has resulted in the following Facebook post and a paid-for Facebook ad for Marathonbet, containing “0% margin” claims, being found not to be misleading. The Facebook post, dated 12 August 2020, stated “We’re offering 0% margin […]
