The UKGC Announces New Rule Changes To Better Protect Customers
The UK Gambling Commission has announced new rules changes to better protect customers.
The regulatory body announced new changes to its License Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP) in order to better protect customers. According to reports, the new rules will raise standards for alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and will change how licensees interact with customers, particularly those at risk of gambling harm. The changes will also improve transparency standards regarding funding and the needs of addicts who could benefit from prevention and treatment.
Under the rules, the Commission requires licensees to work with ADR services that have been approved by the UK Gambling Commission, as part of an effort to increase standards throughout the country. The changes were revealed this week but most rules will not come into effect until October 31, 2019.
The new rules will require casino operators to provide better support to customers and employees will be required to work harder to identify individuals at risk of developing an addiction or those experiencing gambling harm. They will also need to assess the impact interactions will have on individual customers.
Operators will also be forced to contribute more towards researching, preventing and treating gambling problems and harm. These new rules, which come into effect on January 1st, 2020, will “ensure that funds contributed by gambling businesses meet the requirements of their licence are targeted at delivering the National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms in Britain, by setting a list of bodies to which businesses can contribute.”
Paul Hope, the UK Gambling Commission’s Executive Director, said in a statement: “These changes have been designed to make gambling fairer and safer for consumers and we expect gambling firms to meet their responsibilities in these areas.”
Working For Safer Gambling
The news comes as the UK Gambling Continues to work towards improving online gambling. Back in May, the organisation introduced new age and identity verification rules which required users to verify their account immediately after registering. Before completing this, customer accounts are blocked from depositing, withdrawing and playing games.
More recently, the UK Gambling Commission announced a 12-week consultation over the use of credit cards for online gambling. The consultation will take place in mid-August and will look into potentially banning the use of credit cards at online casinos.
Last month, the firm also announced that it didn’t class loot boxes as gambling due to current UK laws. This is because products considered to be gambling must either be money or have a monetary value and loot boxes do not. However, the Commission said it’s prepared to regulate the products if the UK laws change.