In the United Kingdom and the Information Commissioner’s Office authority has reportedly advised the government that it ‘may be lawful’ to introduce a ‘single customer view’ solution in order to help prevent problem gambling.

According to a Thursday report from the Racing Post newspaper, the at-issue innovation would allow online and land-based gaming operators to share information so as to help customers from losing unaffordable sums of money. The latest legal guidance purportedly means that the Gambling Commission regulator could now look towards implementing such a system so long as it abides by local data protection laws.

Assistance appeal:

The source also reported that the Information Commissioner’s Office was asked to look into the legality of rolling out some form of ‘single customer view’ system as part of a government-led review into the nation’s current land-based and online gaming landscape. This purportedly came after the Gambling Commission had gathered together more than 100 industry experts for a two-day conference early last year where it called on the country’s iGaming industry, which is represented by the Betting and Gaming Council, to help it find a workable solution.

Practicable protection:

Tim Miller heads a Gambling Commission team that works towards developing policies and strategies for the reduction of problem gambling and he reportedly expressed pleasure that the Information Commissioner’s Office has now provided an assurance ‘that requirements on data protection need not be a barrier to making progress.’ He went on to proclaim that the ruling means ‘the sharing of behavioral data between gambling operators in order to identify individuals who may be ‘at-risk’ of gambling-related harms via the ‘single customer view’ may be lawful.’

Reportedly read a statement from Miller…

“We now look forward to the industry rapidly starting to pilot and then evaluate the approach they have developed to meet the challenge we have set of achieving a ‘single customer view’.”

Thorough track:

Chris Philp (pictured) is the government minister who has been charged with overseeing the review into the British gambling industry and he reportedly welcomed the ruling from the Information Commissioner’s Office ‘that data can be shared safely and securely between operators to prevent problem gamblers running up crippling losses.’ The Conservative politician serves as the new Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Digital Infrastructure at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and purportedly declared that he is ‘determined to tackle problem gambling’ by conducting ‘a comprehensive review of our gambling laws’ so as to certify ‘they are fit for the digital age.’

Reportedly read a statement from Philp…

“It is essential that more action is taken to prevent people becoming dangerously addicted to gambling to the point that lives can be ruined. This is an important step towards protecting vulnerable people and operators must now come together to quickly deliver a meaningful solution.”