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Chris Philip, the UK’s Minister for Technology and Digital Economy, used his speech at the conference to outline the UK’s efforts to ensure that online gambling remains a safe but healthy part of the growing digital economy.
Speaking on a panel titled ‘Cooperation in the Prevention of Gambling Harm’, Philip elaborated on two main objectives as Minister: to make the Kingdom ‘the safest place in the world to access online’, to set global standards for internet safety, and to conduct a “comprehensive review” to ensure that gambling laws are up to date in the modern digital age.
Having met with various stakeholders within the industry and many medical professionals who specialize in helping patients with addictive disorders, Philip explained that gambling-related harm is a public health issue that requires the presence of regulation. “It’s our duty in government, to prevent people from being led to darker destinations, broader.”
The review of the Gambling Act seeks to address a wide range of issues, using an official request for evidence that has received 16,000 submissions. Philips also said that the white paper will be published in the following months.
To elaborate on the measures taken to avoid allowing compulsory or risky gambling, a request for a pay stub or bank statement from a customer over ?100 may be perceived as intrusive, but it is more than justified beyond a certain point. Another more acceptable form of regulation would be a new approach using state-of-the-art technology and data metrics. Philips aims to create a system similar to that used by more modern credit reference agencies. This is a smoother form of compliance, even if the higher the level of gambling, the more intrusive checks are required. “Checks based on expenditure and financial status must be supplemented, rather than replacing all existing requirements for operators to monitor operational data, identify risks and intervene accordingly,” he said.
To this end, he indicated that the success of GAMSTOP, a multi-operator online self-exclusion scheme, is a good sign of the path to take. Since a single individual can have multiple accounts with several different operators, there is a real need for a single customer view (SCV) that protects the individual rather than a single account.
Regarding the issue of data protection, Philips explained that data sharing is carried out according to strict protocols, ensuring the safety and security of data, and the amount of data used is proportional to the situation. Philips asked stakeholders in the audience to work with regulators to create a system that would help create and maintain a high standard of customer protection, referring to the data-sharing system currently used as a benchmark in the financial sector.
Elaborating on the role of key regulators, Philips said the role of the Gambling Commission would be helpful in trying to make the UK gambling market a safer economic ecosystem. Working closely with the chairman and the chairman, he promises that the review of the gambling law will be thorough if necessary. Noting the ban on gambling with credit cards, strict adherence to age regulations and the actions of the European Commission during COVID, Philippe said that regulators will be the cornerstone of the future of the industry.
SiGMA Asia 2022
After a series of exciting conferences during Malta Week 2021, SiGMA Group is set to take the world by storm with the golden spires of Kiev and the snowy city of Toronto, a hub for drawing together the best and brightest parts of the iGaming world. At the next expo, visitors will be able to visit the UAE’s most advanced cities for three days of networking, panel discussions, and festivities. Stay up-to-date with SiGMA News.
