The UK Information Commissioners Office has launched an investigation into nuisance texts being sent to millions of British residents encouraging them to gamble online.
Regulators are concerned that the gambling firms are using private numbers and personal details illegally to encourage people to gamble. The texts may also be offering misleading betting promotions and complex rules and conditions.
Under UK law, firms that target people with texts without getting permission are liable to fines of up to £500,000. The Information Commissioners Office has written to 400 companies demanding details on how they target people with texts, according to various online reports. The request includes information on how companies got obtain private information and details on how many texts have been sent.
Online gambling companies may be buying lists of names and numbers from partner marketing firm and affiliates, but not checking to ensure their targets have agreed to accept the texts, which they then have to pay to receive.
“Companies must comply with the law when using people’s personal information,” said ICO’s anti-spam investigations manager, David Clancy in a press statement. “Not knowing the law or trying to pass the buck to another company in the chain is no excuse. The public expect firms to be accountable for how they obtain and use personal data when marketing by phone, email or text. Fail to be accountable and you could be breaking the law, risking ICO enforcement action and the future of your business.”
Clancy said the investigation was launched due to consumers “who’ve reported spam texts to us, as well as intelligence from other sources, that we’ve been able to progress our investigations to this stage.’
Last month the UK Competition & Markets Authority also announced an investigation into the country’s online gambling firms over deceptive promotions and excessive rules and conditions that allow them to not pay gamblers.
