The UK Gambling commission will increase fines for regulatory breaches under a new enforcement strategy.
The new enforcement measures went into effect last week and the commission advised UK gambling operators to familiarize with the updated policy.
The changes include alterations to the commission’s statement on financial penalties and introduce higher fines for breaches, particularly with cases that involve systemic and repeated failings. The commission also intends to place all regulatory tools, including license reviews of both the operator and personal management licenses, on an equal footing by removing current bias in favor of settlement, the commission said in a press release.
The commission will also use time-limited discounts to create more of an incentive to settle cases earlier, the release said.
“We will use the full range of enforcement powers to ensure operators put customers first and raise standards,” said Sarah Harrison, chief executive of the commission. “The industry can be assured that we will use our powers in a targeted way, and consumers and the public can be assured we will take robust and effective action when gambling companies don’t meet their obligations.”
The move comes shortly after the commission supported a new probe by the UK Competition and Markets Authority over deceptive practices in sign-up promotions and player withdrawal conditions.
In another UK matter, the government announced that a planned review of fixed odds betting terminals will begin in October. The machines have drawn heavy criticism that they are addictive and make it easier for gamblers to lose large amounts of money in a short period of time.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is examining the machines, but local reports say the review has been delayed due to concerns from the UK Treasury over how regulation of FOBTs would affect taxes.
Also, the Guardian newspaper reported that the UK Gambling Commission is considering launching an investigation into British bookmaker Ladbrokes’ data protection measures after a trash bag containing confidential information about individuals suffering from gambling addiction was reportedly found outside one of Ladbrokes’ betting shops in Scotland.
The paper said information including names, addresses, and photos, was discovered by a passerby outside one of the betting shop’s branches in Glasgow. Ladbrokes said that it collects personal data from its sports betting shops and it is securely disposed of via a company-wide procedure.
