This is according to Gambling Commission Chief Exec Andrew Rhodes who commented on the findings of the regulator’s Compliance and Enforcement Report for the 2020/21 financial year.
During this period, the GC suspended five operator licences and revoked one, as well as nine personal management licences, all while Covid dogged Britain’s gambling sector.
In addition, 15 gambling businesses were forced to cough up a total of £32.1m ($42.3m) in fines or regulatory settlements, more than in any prior year.
It conducted 25 full assessments of online operators, five targeted assessments of land-based operators, 83 website reviews and 262 security audits, while 29 personal licence reviews were commenced and 57 finalised.
Rhodes expressed his appreciation for the work of the Commission’s Enforcement and Compliance Team, but called on operators to do more.
“I am impressed by the amount of enforcement work carried out, but it is also disappointing that it should be necessary,” he said. “Looking back at enforcement in 2020/21 we see the same two weaknesses in almost every case — operators failing to adhere to social responsibility and anti-money laundering rules.”
“These regulations are there for two very good reasons – to protect people and ensure that gambling is crime-free. These rules underpin two of the three licensing objectives, without which it would be impossible for us to permit gambling as laid out in the Gambling Act 2005. So, adherence should be at the forefront of every operator’s mind.”
Rhodes went on to say: “Whilst the threat of Covid-19 hasn’t gone away, the gambling sector has largely resumed operations.
“As Great Britain’s regulator for the gambling industry, we still see far too many breaches of regulations where everyone in the industry agrees we should not see them. The industry has the resources, skills and knowledge to change this.”
