Marcus Boyle, in his first public statement as the new chairman of the U.K. Gambling Commission (UKGC), wrote in an op-ed for The Times that the nation’s gambling industry requires better regulation.
Boyle said his focus since being appointed chairman of the commission has been on “identifying beneficial changes for both consumers and the industry” which require tougher regulation.
Regulatory penalties totaling £130 million over the course of the past five years were deemed non-effective deterrents for repeat offenders, Boyle wrote. He is plugging “cumulative sanction packages” that will increase penalties and include “fines being based on a percentage of customer takings, short or long-term suspensions and attaching significant conditions to licenses.”
“We will not tolerate an attitude of lowest possible compliance being sufficient,” Boyle wrote. “We expect our license-holders to genuinely commit and learn from failings. Licenses will be withdrawn where standards are not met, meaning that individuals could not hold senior positions in the industry. License-holders should aim for the highest standards.”
Boyle wrote the op-end as the U.K. government conducts a comprehensive review of the Gambling Act.
“I welcome the Gambling Act review and believe that it will result in a legislative environment that meets the needs of this global industry and gives the commission the capacity to regulate it,” Boyle wrote.
“This will help to keep people safe from harm while keeping the enjoyment of the recreational gambler.”
