UKGC chief details expected policies from online operators amid new Covid-19 restrictions

UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) Chief Executive Neil McArthur on Thursday issued an open letter to online gambling operators addressing the latest Covid-19 lockdown measures in England, following additional measures previously introduced in Wales and Scotland in response to rising rates of coronavirus cases.

McArthur recalled that in May the UKGC issued new guidance to online operators to ensure that consumers were further protected following evidence that showed some gamblers were potentially at greater risk of harm during the lockdown. The new guidelines included tightening customer interaction rules around affordability checks, the prevention of reverse withdrawals and restrictions on bonus offers. 

"Since March, we have a clearer sense of the risks to consumers due to periods of lockdown as well as a clearer picture of the impacts on mental health and wellbeing," he wrote. "As was the case during the first lockdown, we know that there are likely to be significant numbers of people, particularly people from the retail and hospitality sectors, who will be at home for at least the next four weeks. In light of these recent developments and whilst I recognise the enormous daily challenges businesses are facing, I want to highlight again our expectations around customer safety."

These expectations are specifically laid out in the letter as it follows:

Consumer protection must be paramount

• We expect you to act responsibly, especially around individual customer affordability checks and increased social responsibility interactions.
• We expect you to be very mindful that customers may be vulnerable and experiencing financial uncertainty, whilst others may be experiencing other effects of being isolated including, for example, feelings of anxiety, loneliness or boredom.
• We expect you to know your customers and step in quickly if they are showing signs that they are experiencing or at risk of harm.

Marketing must be conducted responsibly

• We expect you to on-board new customers in a socially responsible way.
• You must not exploit the current situation for marketing purposes and should be very cautious when seeking to cross-sell online gaming products to customers who signed up with you in order to bet.
• We expect you to ensure that your affiliates are conducting themselves appropriately.

Compliance with licence conditions and codes of practice

• We expect you to act in a way that minimises the risks to the licensing objectives.
• Treat consumers fairly and communicate with them in a clear way that allows them to make a properly informed judgment about whether to gamble.
• Work with the Commission in an open and co-operative way and act in accordance with both the letter or the spirit of the regulatory framework we have set.

Furthermore, McArthur encouraged online gaming operators to share their own analysis of impacts to the industry or other information that could be relevant for the UKGC our work. He said they can talk to Ben Haden, Director of Research and Statistics, "who is collating all of the information about how Covid-19 is effecting the industry at this time. Additionally, if you have information or concerns about the behaviour of an operator, our Confidential Intelligence Hotline is continuing to take calls or you can email the team. You can also continue to contact your account manager in the normal way."

"The gambling industry and daily life as a whole continues to be impacted by Covid-19 and during this time I want to ensure operators are both supported and aware of the expectations I have outlined above. We continue to be in touch with Government and our colleagues at DCMS and I will provide further updates when required," he wrote in closing.