BGC welcomes UKGC's announcement on games design

"As the standards body representing the regulated industry, the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) is determined to drive change and promote safer gambling," said Michael Dugher, chief executive of the BGC.

That is why, Dugher added, the BGC has welcomed the UK Gambling Commission's announcement on games design: "It builds on the BGC’s new code of conduct from last September for the design of online games in a bid to further improve player safety."

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) announced on Tuesday a package of strict measures aimed at strengthening the protections and controls for those who gamble through online slots games – including the introduction of limits on spin speeds, and the permanent ban on features that speed up play or celebrate losses as wins.

BGC members have already introduced measures including the slowing down of spin speeds and banning several gaming features which have caused concern.

"Among the major commitments we have already introduced are minimum game cycle speeds of 2.5 seconds, the ending of turbo play, which allows players to speed up games, and the scrapping of multi-slot play, where a player can place multiple stakes on different games at the same time. We are also progressing a game labeling project which will improve labeling of games in order to educate players on key game characteristics," he continued.

"None of these new changes apply to the unsafe, unregulated black market online, but the BGC will work with the regulator, academics, consumers and individuals with lived experience of betting-related harm to identify further best practice in game design going forward, to ensure we keep up to date with changes in technology," he concluded.