UKGC releases guidance for operators over coronavirus outbreak

As the situation with COVID-19 continues to impact daily life in the UK, the Gambling Commission provided information on how it will be operating during this time, along with important reminders about how gaming companies should continue to protect consumers. 

The UKGC said in a release Wednesday that it is following Public Health England guidance and has told all staff to work from home until further notice. Also, that it has a well-practised and comprehensive Business Continuity Plan, which it has invoked with the aim of minimising the impact on its regulatory work and the advice and services it provides.

The regulatory body also said that due to the way its fee system is structured, it doesn’t have the ability to reduce fees. It said it is also unable to fast track applications. “We will continue to monitor the situation and will communicate any changes to our expectations accordingly,” it said.

A number of operators have already contacted the regulators to alert them to the challenges they face and seek their advice about how to respond. Licensees are to follow the applicable Public Health guidance, ensuring they have sufficient management, staffing and oversight in place to maintain compliance with the license conditions and codes of practice (LCCP) that apply to their licenses, and to uphold the licensing objectives. 

Licensees should also consider voluntary partial or full suspension of their offerings should compliance not be achievable and until such time that a fully compliant service can be offered. 

The social distancing measures that are being put in place means that more people will be at home, so the UKGC reminded online operators that “they must continue to act responsibly, especially in regards to individual customer affordability and increased social responsibility interactions.”

Lastly, the Gambling Commission said it expects licensees to:

• Assess individual affordability on an ongoing basis – customers may be experiencing disrupted income
• Increase social responsibility interactions and intervene where customers are showing signs of gambling related harm
• Onboard new customers in a socially responsible way and not exploit the current situation for marketing purposes
• Refresh the information they have on customers regularly
• Review the levels which trigger interaction for AML and SR
• Ensure that their gambling products have been tested by a test house before they are released to the market
• Ensure that markets being offered are consistent with UKGC's previous guidance.