UKGC Announces Substantive Changes in UK Gambling in 2024

Ian Angus from the UK Gambling Commission has stated multiple vital changes will affect the entire British gambling industry in 2024. The Director of Policy at UKGC added it will be a crucial and busy year once the new changes are introduced. They will influence Codes of Practice and the Licence Conditions.

Angus spoke at the Lotteries Council and said substantive changes will start to come into effect soon. The first round of consultations was already held, and the idea was to make gambling fairer, safer, and crime-free. Not keeping the game responsible and fraudless would tarnish the entire industry.

The first job is to review the submissions, develop an ombudsman scheme and make progress with consultations. Some of the things covered during consultations include age verification inside premises and improving consumer choice on cross-selling and direct marketing.

Other things to be discussed are financial risk assessments and vulnerability checks, as well as removing intensity-increasing features from non-slot games. The commission has also revealed what will be addressed in the additional consultation rounds and other projects. They will enhance the analysis of operating data utilisation, which should deliver exciting results.

UKGC Executive Director Tim Miller revealed that the next set of consultations would focus on gambling management tools and socially responsible incentives. Moreover, Ben Haden, Director of Research and Statistics, has added the projects at the beginning of 2024 will include regulatory returns. Consumer data will be aggregated daily to use operating data better.

The commission also has a plan to overhaul survey practices and data collection. Angus underlined the importance of the telephone survey once a quarter, as well as NHS Health Survey Data from six years ago. Still, a new golden standard needs to be established for data collection. UKGC wants to do it via the Great Britain Gambling Survey.

It is supposed to be the largest survey of its type anywhere in the world, with 20,000 responses when running at full speed. It should provide more accurate info, bringing better regulation. The body will be publishing new data in the spring of 2024.