In the United Kingdom and a wide-ranging review into existing gambling laws is reportedly set to be launched from later this week that could result in locally-licensed iGaming firms being required to institute a more stringent range of protections and controls.

According to a Friday report from The Guardian newspaper, the evaluation of the Gambling Act 2005 is due to be conducted by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) amid mounting concerns regarding online gambling’s role in wider society. The move will purportedly no doubt also be welcomed by advocates for tighter regulations, which include a group of more than 50 parliamentarians alongside those who may be recovering from an addiction to gambling.

Spacious scope:

The newspaper reported that the broad review into the legislation ratified during the administration of former Prime Minister Tony Blair is to commence with a ‘terms of reference’ stage under the direction of Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston (pictured) before moving on to consider multiple ways in which the country’s iGaming landscape may be made safer and less prone to abuse.

Possible protections:

The Guardian reported that the enquiry could well result in iGaming operators licensed in the United Kingdom being obliged to introduce maximum stake levels in addition to monthly loss ceilings. Such firms may purportedly moreover be required to begin performing enhanced player affordability checks and establish a new ‘single customer view’ policy where multiple firms would pool information on potentially vulnerable clients.

The DCMS is to reportedly furthermore look into the prospect of requiring licensed iGaming firms to slow the speed of slot spins and submit to a revised testing regime that could set bespoke wagering limits for individual games. The nation’s current ‘while-label’ licensing system is to purportedly likewise be examined in an effort to create a more responsible and accountable iGaming landscape.

Marketing modification:

The newspaper reported that officials are to possibly also consider whether to prohibit iGaming operators from advertising their wares via the sponsorship of sports teams and leagues while looking into the safety and integrity of existing promotional schemes such as ‘free bet’, bonus and VIP offers.

Industry unease:

The Guardian reported that the upcoming review has prompted concern from numerous online casino and sportsbetting firms with the Betting and Gaming Council lobby group warning that the implementation of overly-strict rules may well fuel the emergence of a parallel market featuring negligible customer safety protocols.

Reportedly read a statement from the Betting and Gaming Council…

“It is important that the review is evidence-led and strikes the right balance between protecting the vulnerable while not spoiling the enjoyment of the estimated 30 million people who enjoy a bet at least once a month, the vast majority of whom do so perfectly safely, and driving them into the arms of the unregulated online black market.”