Archive | July, 2021

Latest UKGC gambling participation and PG statistics do not support calls for more robust regulatory controls

The Gambling Commission has today (27 July 2021) published its ‘findings from the quarterly telephone survey: Statistics on participation and problem gambling for the year to June 2021’. These statistics look set to counter arguments being raised by those calling for considerably more robust regulatory controls to be imposed pursuant to the UK Government’s ongoing […]

DCMS Committee to scrutinise 4NLC process

The cross-party House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee has responsibility for scrutinising the work of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and its associated public bodies. The DCMS Committee has commenced a “What next for the National Lottery?” Inquiry to examine the competition process (currently being run by the […]

UKGC launches new “Apply for a Personal Licence” service

The Gambling Commission has today (26 July 2021) launched its new “Apply for a Personal Licence” service that applies in relation to personal management licences, personal functional licences and Annex A declarations. Commenting on this, the Commission states as follows on its website: New Gambling Commission licensing services The Commission has launched a new service, […]

Very little change to UKGC’s Regulatory Panels proposals despite controversy they caused

We reported in May 2020 on a Gambling Commission consultation in relation to proposed changes to its corporate governance framework that it described as being designed to “ensure that [its] Regulatory Panels are best equipped to deal with [its] evolving casework”. They included proposals to: introduce legally qualified Adjudicators as members of the Commission’s Regulatory Panels (that provide […]

IBAS poses questions about a Gambling Ombudsman

Following the call earlier this month by the Betting and Gaming Council for establishment of a Gambling Ombudsman, Richard Hayler, Managing Director of the Independent Betting Adjudication Service (IBAS) – an Alternative Dispute Resolution service, approved by the Gambling Commission to provide informed and impartial adjudications on disputes that arise between licensed gambling operators and their […]

UK’s Gambling Minister provides some clues on what lies ahead

On 22 July 2021, the Chair of the Betting & Gaming APPG, Scott Benton MP, led a House of Commons Adjournment Debate on the Government’s Review of the Gambling Act 2005 in which he delivered a strong pro-UK gambling industry message. Responding, the Minister for Media & Data, John Whittingdale MP (who also has ministerial […]

National Lottery funds payable to good causes 2020/2021

The Gambling Commission has published the following Annual Report in relation to “National Lottery funds payable to good causes 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021”, in which it sets out funds payable to the National Lottery Distribution Fund (NLDF) for the above described financial year and versus the last financial year. Summary Additional data […]

EGBA Sustainability Report highlights safer gambling efforts & progress made in 2020

The European Gaming & Betting Association (EGBA) has published its ‘Sustainability Report’ 2021/21. EGBA’s accompanying press release states that its members “have reported that 75% of their customers now use the safer gambling tools they offer and a 133% increase in the number of personalised communications they sent to their customers to promote safer gambling […]