Gambling Commission to Announce New Checks

The UK Gambling Commission has announced new rules that are to take effect from August of this year that could impact players who use the services online. The Commission agreed that the new checks could be raised to £500. This means that certain aspects of gambling in the UK - including casino sites - could be regulated to the point where pundits could lose their money.

The Gambling Commission also promised to introduce a pilot scheme which would consult on a number of things from vulnerability checks e.g. things that include how gambling affected lives. This was part of a white paper that was published by the government last year that would urge new reforms in the world of gambling.

The new scheme, which is set to charge punters £125 a month, will now be raised to £500 from August.

This has angered many, including members from the British Horseracing Agency (BHA), whose Former CEO, Nick Rust, currently serves as Chair of the Commission's Industry Forum. Members demand that punters will not be left ‘vulnerable’ by these new checks that the Gambling Commission have proposed. 

The pilot scheme was brought in to carefully examine the effects it would have, and this was launched alongside credit reference agencies. It was also backed by the Betting and Gambling Council (BGC).

Lucy Frazer: The Culture Secretary was part of a series of reforms aimed at the betting industry that would try and make it safer for more people to use the services.

The White Paper, commissioned by the British government, has backed these new proposals through the Minister responsible.

The new regulations also include publishing public information about betters, including information about their debts.  

The CEO of the Gambling Commission Andrew Rhodes has added that the “introduction of new rules is based on evidence and takes into account the views of consumers and other interested parties.”

There has also been scrutiny drawn over these so-called “reforms”, adding that the betting industry could lose up from 600 to 1,000 jobs. 

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lucy Frazer, added that there was a new “interim betting code” to be introduced, adding that they would be part of the reforms to the betting industry.

It is also estimated that up to £1,000-£2,000 will be part of the new lost bets, which was confirmed by the Gambling Commission.

It will be some time before these news checks are introduced, but the Gambling Commission and other regulators have announced they are confident that no such person involved in the world of betting will be affected severely as the pilot scheme will be a long-term success.