UKGC: Have your say on tougher rules for identifying and tackling gambling harm – including customer affordability

The Gambling Commission is calling for views from the industry, consumers and other stakeholders on stronger requirements on online operators to identify consumers who may be at risk of gambling harm and to then interact and take action to prevent those harms.

Launched yesterday, the consultation calls for feedback from a range of stakeholders on proposals that strengthen the expectations on gambling businesses to act on information they have about a consumer’s vulnerability and to conduct assessments of whether the customer’s gambling is affordable at thresholds set by the Commission.

It is also calling for evidence on what the thresholds for these affordability checks should be and the nature of those checks.

Tim Miller, executive director, said: “Whilst some operators have continued to improve their customer interaction processes, our evidence shows that many online operators are not setting thresholds for action at appropriate levels. They are not taking the appropriate action or acting quickly enough when they do identify risks of potential harm.

“We are clear on the need for gambling companies to take further action and that the Commission must set firm requirements to set consistent standards. But we want to have an open discussion with the gambling industry, consumers, people with lived experience and other stakeholders, to ensure we strike the right balance between allowing consumer freedom and ensuring that there are protections in place to prevent gambling harm.”