Published
Legal & Regulatory

Gambling with Lives: “Licensed operators offer totally inadequate consumer protection”

Gambling with Lives, a charity aiming to raise awareness of problem gambling, has called on the UK Government to raise standards in the gambling industry after suggesting licensed operators offer “totally inadequate consumer protection.”

reg

In a letter sent by the charity to UK secretary of state for Digital, Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) MP Oliver Dowden, the charity said it welcomed the Government’s review of the 2005 Gambling Act but said fears about the black market threat were "scaremongering."

Last month, it was announced the DCMS were leading a government review of gambling regulation in the UK, including considering changes to the Gambling Act, gambling adverts, sponsorship in sport and limits on online stakes, to “re-balance” the odds between gamblers and the industry.

While standards body the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) welcomed the move, CEO Michael Dugher said the Government “must ensure any changes do not drive people to the unregulated black market online.”

In the letter of 30 signatories including Gambling with Lives senior programme manager and The Big Step founder James Grimes, the charity said it was dismayed by these comments, suggesting that licensed operators needed more regulation.

It drew to the fact the signatories collectively lost £11.9m ($16.3m) with 507 regulated gambling site accounts, compared to £113,000 on the black market, as a result of gambling addiction over the years.

The letter, titled ‘We Are The Evidence Too’, went on to say: “If the Government wants to prevent harm, it should be finding ways to raise standards – not excuses to facilitate a race to the bottom.

“The threat of the ‘black market’ has been overstated by the gambling industry, which should not be allowed to use this as an excuse to hold down standards in Britain.

"Because those standards are far too low and the resulting harm far too high from a sector that derives the majority of its profits from people who get addicted.”

Premium+ Connections
Premium
 
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium Connections
Consultancy
Executive Profiles
Chicken Ranch Casino
The Responsible Gambling Affiliate Association (RGAA)
Catena Media
Gambling Commission
Follow Us
The most prestigious Awards in the industry are heading to the Philippines! The Global Gaming Awards Asia-Pacific will recognise and reward (as the name suggests) the strongest performers from the Asia-Pacific gaming industry across the previous 12 months.
This year's winners will be announced at a luncheon ceremony on Day 2 of SiGMA Asia, 4th June, in Manila.
The eleventh annual Global Gaming Awards Americas will recognize and reward the gaming industry's strongest performers across the previous 12 months. These are the most prestigious and trusted Awards in the industry and have gained respect amongst industry heavyweights, due to the strict rules and procedures put in place.

Facing Facts: Operator Q3s from across the globe

Gambling Insider compares Q3 2023 results from major gamblin...

Taking Stock: Operators and suppliers across the world

Sticking with our theme of gambling across the globe, Gambli...

CEO Special: Jade Entertainment and Gaming CEO Joe Pisano - down to earth

Jade Entertainment and Gaming CEO Joe Pisano speaks to Gambl...

CEO Special: Betfred CEO Joanne Whittaker - saying it as it is

Betfred CEO Joanne Whittaker joins Gambling Insider Editor T...