Press Releases
UKGC: Information for operators re-opening land-based gambling premises
As restrictions on the lockdown ease the UKGC has published a number of frequently asked questions covering its expectations from land-based operators.
These FAQs are aimed at helping operators manage compliance with Government guidance on reopening with continued compliance with the Licence conditions and codes of practice (LCCP).
The Commission is also reminding operators they are still expected to continue to follow Customer Interaction guidance as doors are reopened to consumers.
Frequently asked questions
Which premises can open from 15 June?
Just betting offices in England are able to open from 15 June.
Do Operators still have to meet all the Gambling Act and LCCP requirements?
Yes, there are no changes to operators’ obligations. We therefore expect operators to have confidence in their ability to be fully compliant with our requirements when they reopen. Where we find evidence of non-compliance, we will take swift action.
Will the Commission undertake premises-based assessments?
The Commission’s approach will support the following Government objectives as set out in guidance:
- To minimise the contact resulting from visits to stores or outlets
- To minimise the number of unnecessary visits to offices
- To minimise non-essential travel
This means that the Commission will look to obtain premises information by remote means. This includes requesting electronic data or recordings and where possible/necessary undertaking Skype meetings.
Will Licensing Authorities undertake premises-based assessments?
LA requirements remain the same. Individual LAs will undertake their own risk assessments and implement policies and procedures accordingly.
Who do I report my concerns to if I think government Covid-19 guidelines are not being followed correctly?
The Gambling Commission is not responsible for addressing breaches of Covid19 guidance. The Health & Safety Executive (HSE), Local Authorities, and local Police Forces (England & Wales only) have the relevant information on their websites.
Risk Assessments
General business risk assessment
Whilst not a requirement, we would expect operators to consider the risks posed to compliance with the Act, LCCP and associated guidance. As such we may seek evidence to support this.
Do operators need to review their premises [local] risk assessment(s)?
Operators may have to implement changes to manage social distancing and to protect staff and customers. Where these changes are significant, and could affect the mitigation of local risks, operators must review and where necessary update their risk assessments.
Do operators need to update their AML risk assessment?
Land based operators in the regulated sector are required to regularly review their AML risk assessments. Casinos are not reopening in June, but we would expect them to review the risks when they do. Operators in the unregulated sector are expected to review the risks and if required update any risk assessments.
Premises
What do operators need to consider if they are putting screens around machines for customer protection?
Operators must ensure that whatever measures they put in place to socially distance customers, staff can continue to supervise the premises, monitor customers behaviour for signs of gambling-related harm and monitor compliance with age-restrictions.
Do the social distancing rules mean customer interactions are suspended?
No. Operators must ensure that staff can and do undertake customer interactions that are meaningful and effective and that they comply with the LCCP and with our Customer Interaction guidance .
Do operators still need to undertake Age Verification (AV) check programs?
Operators are still required to undertake these programs. Suppliers (e.g. Serve Legal) could also be undertaking their own business risk assessments that may require changes to the process.
If customers are wearing PPE (facemasks), are operators still required to undertake AV checks?
Yes, Government guidance states that customers can be asked to remove their masks for AV checks. If customers refuse, then staff should follow operator guidance on refusing service.
If customers are wearing PPE (facemasks), are operators still required to enforce self-exclusions?
Yes. There are no changes to an operator’s responsibilities. Operators are expected to review their policies and procedures and to take a pragmatic approach.
Can operators move their gaming machines to allow for social distancing? Where plans submitted to LA stipulate specific areas for machines (most likely betting shops) operators must contact the LA for advice first.
Can operators expand the use of TITO?
We expect full and proper supervision of these facilities, in particular the monitoring for potential money laundering or safer gambling issues. Operators must ensure that they can evidence appropriate controls when installing TITO and all gaming machines must comply with the relevant technical standards.
Can betting operators increase the number of SSBTs?
We expect full and proper supervision of these facilities. In particular the monitoring for potential money laundering or safer gambling issues. Provided operators can evidence appropriate controls when installing SSBTs, use can be expanded.
Can operators replace safer gambling messaging (posters/leaflets etc.) with social distancing/Covid 19 messaging?
Our guidance on the provision and display of information has not changed.
Will the Commission suspend test-purchasing?
We will continue to carry out test-purchasing to identify those that are operating unlawfully.
What will the Commission do about the period of time during which there were no test-purchase exercises?
We do not want operators to be disadvantaged and so we will be calculating results only for the periods during which premises are open.
Staff
What happens if staff will not or cannot undertake customer interactions due to social distancing or Covid 19 concerns?
Operators must ensure customer interactions take place. Staffing issues are a matter for individual operators, but our expectation is that they are confident in their abilities to meet all of our requirements, including customer interactions, when they reopen. Where we find evidence of non-compliance, we will take swift action.
What happens if a PML goes sick with C-19 or has to self-isolate?
Our expectation is that operators will have in place contingency plans. So long as this is the case, wherever possible the Commission will be flexible on arrangements.
EveryMatrix is live with Supremeland Gaming, Inc. on DraftKings, its first exclusive content aggregation partnership in US.
The partnership will see Supremeland Gaming, through its American-based game studio Powderkeg, develop exclusive content on EveryMatrix technology, while also enabling EveryMatrix to distribute its games and provide additional gamification features such as free spins and tournaments for the US market via its SlotMatrix aggregation platform.
Supremeland Gaming’s content, via SlotMatrix, is now available on DraftKings in New Jersey with further states pending.
EveryMatrix is the industry’s largest content aggregator and has secured commercial agreements with several tier-1 operators in the US through SlotMatrix including DraftKings with its in-house content live in New Jersey and Ontario.
It has more than 300 global customers with North American licences in Ontario, New Jersey, Michigan, West Virginia, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.
Erik Nyman, President, EveryMatrix Americas, said: “At the core of the EveryMatrix product strategy has been to deliver its world-leading casino productivity and aggregation platform to the US market.
“Today, we have enabled our first partner Supremeland Gaming to go live and our customers can facilitate bonus capabilities for third-party games which has been never seen in this market until now. Powderkeg develops high-quality games and we are confident players will enjoy them.”
Rickard Öhrn, CEO of Supremeland Gaming, said: “This major milestone represents the first step on an exciting journey we are undertaking to deliver mischievous, innovative, and really fun-to-play online games to a broader audience through our partnership with EveryMatrix.”
Innovative game studio Peter & Sons has today announced the expansion of its senior management team with the appointment of Lauryn Duncan to the role of Head of Sales and Marketing.
In her new role, Lauryn will be primarily responsible for new partnerships with clients across multiple jurisdictions that Peter & Sons is licensed. She will also be tasked with managing client relationships at every level of the collaboration from initial discussions right through to launch and ongoing account management.
Lauryn embarked on her slot game journey at Wazdan, spearheading the successful launch of many tier 1 operators. Her skills led her to Microgaming, a premier iGaming content supplier, where she undertook diverse roles encompassing sales, partnerships, and team management. Her most recent tenure at gaming powerhouse Games Global showcased her expertise in client onboarding across key markets in Europe and Canada.
Peter & Sons already has access to the largest regulated markets including the UK, Italy, Ontario, Sweden, Greece, and Denmark. Additionally, the studio is set to go live in Spain, Portugal, and New Jersey – allowing Peter & Sons to cater to the true powerhouses of the iGaming space.
Over the last couple of years, Peter & Sons has created some of the most spectacular slots and has become a challenger brand within the iGaming industry. To achieve this, the company has built a highly skilled team of artists, mathematicians, and musicians to create some of the most entertaining content that players have come to love.
Yann Bautista, Commercial Director and Founder of Peter & Sons, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome to our family someone of Lauryn’s calibre. Lauryn is joining at a pivotal moment for Peter & Sons, as we continue to strengthen our partnership roster.
“In the last 12 months alone, we have integrated with more than 50 new operators and aggregators, including big names such as Playtech, IGT, Hub88, Reevo, Groove and AzureTech.
“Lauryn’s experience, network and passion for delivering excellence, coupled with the fact that we are perfectly aligned with our vision for the future of Peter & Sons, makes her the perfect candidate for this role.”
Commenting on her appointment, Lauryn Duncan, Head of Sales and Marketing, added: “This is a wonderful opportunity for me to be involved with Peter & Sons, which has fast become one of the most exciting slot game providers.
“This is an incredible opportunity for me to join forces with Peter and Sons, a company that is fast becoming one of the most exciting slot provider. After working with many studios, one develops a sense of what sets exceptional studios apart, and Peter and Sons has that unique spark of a company in its breakthrough stage.”
The post Peter & Sons bolsters its senior management team with new hire appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Hub88 has entered into a partnership with Stake, which will see it become the exclusive aggregation partner to the trailblazing crypto behemoth.
Through the alliance, Stake will integrate the entire content portfolio of Hub88 and provide its players with games from 120+ of the industry’s most sought-after studios.
As well as hit slot titles, Stake will benefit from live dealer and other iGaming content available via Hub88’s premium platform offering, as well as value-added propositions such as HubWallet Banking, Crypto Payments, and chat services which is part of the provider’s ecosystem.
Stake is a community-based betting platform that was established in 2017 and quickly became the world’s biggest cryptocurrency sportsbook and casino. The operator also has a substantial sweepstake casino offering, providing free-to-play casino experiences to users.
The exclusive deal is an extension of an already successful partnership between the two brands and will help both companies significantly propel their ambitious commercial growth goals.
Mark Taffler, Commercial Director of Hub88, said: “We’re delighted to take our relationship with Stake to the next level. Fundamentally, we come from the same place as crypto is at the heart of what we both do.
“We will now be able to work even more closely with Stake. and help them boost their business by providing our best-in-class tech offering, content supply and account management while further adding value by delivering our business-enabling propositions such as Banking, Crypto Payments, and our HubWallet solution.”
Eddie Craven, Owner of Stake, said: “We’ve grown to trust Hub88 implicitly and their transparency and approach to business makes us secure that we are provided with the best content offering with a superior tech stack and back-end support.
“Hub88 is genuinely an extension of our own business and as a trusted and well-established partner, we’re super excited to take this to the next level.”
The post Hub88 strikes exclusive partnership with crypto giant Stake.com appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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