United Kingdom Gambling Commission

ABOUT THE UNITED KINGDOM GAMBLING COMMISSION

The UK Gambling Commission mostly referred to as the UKGC is an executive yet non-departmental public body part of the United Kingdom Government responsible for supervising and regulating gambling. This includes lotteries, slot machines, casinos, bingo, slingo games, betting, arcades and remote gambling, not including spread betting.

The main aim of the UKGC is to keep gambling free of crime and to take all steps necessary to protect vulnerable people. The commission not only issue licences but also provide advice to the government regarding gambling-related issues.

In 2007 the UKGC takes responsibility for regulating gambling activities under the Gambling Act 2005. This includes not only remote gambling but also betting online via phone and other communication methods advertising or offering services to UK residents. This includes investigations and monitoring of online casino operators and taking steps to ensure fair and safe gambling actions.

The main focuses of the UK Gambling Commission are to protect children, prevent criminal activities such as money laundering, and ensure gambling operators uses the tools available correctly and effectively to provide UK customers with a safe and fair experience.

UK Gambling Commission Strategy

The strategy of the UKGC for the next three years is to ensure a well-regulated market in which gamblers can enjoy gambling with confidence knowing they are protected and well treated.

Licensing objectives: protect vulnerable people and children from gambling harm, ensure all gambling is fair and conducted in an open way and prevent gambling from becoming a source of disorder and crime.

UKGC Mission: To create a safer and fairer gambling experience for all via licensing and regulating with the interest of the public at heart while providing guidance and advice.

UKGC Vision: A safe and fair gambling market where the interest of all players and the wider public are protected.

LICENSING REQUIREMENTS

• Licensees must permit enforcement offices in Great Britain to inspect copies of date kept and remote gambling equipment
• Casinos offering remote gaming must offer games by licensed gambling software providers
• Player funds must be protected and held in a separate banking account
• Casinos holding or accepting funds from players must make it clear in the terms and conditions whether the funds of the British players are protected in events such as insolvency and indicate the level of protection.
• Gambling operating licence holders much have appropriate and effective procedures and policies implemented regarding the usage of cash and cash equivalents.
• No credit must be provided to UK players by non-remote or remote gambling operators in accordance with the updated regulations applied in preventing problem gambling. The new rules and regulations are in full effect for UK gambling commission licence holders.
• Online casinos holding UKGC gambling licences are not to accept payment via credit card for gambling
• Fair and transparent practices and terms must be complied with at all times
• Licensees such as online casinos must display their license on every screen
• All online casinos and other gambling operators such as a betting shop must assess the risk of being used for terrorist financing for money laundering by following the guidance provided by the UK Gambling Commission
• Anti-money laundering legislation makes it mandatory for all operators including remote gaming service providers to comply with the Terrorism Act 2000, POCA Act 2002 and Gambling Act 2005.
• Suspicion of any offences in the gambling industry must be reported to the UK Gambling Commission
• Follow and correctly apply customer identification verification and adhere to the AGC Social Responsibility code of the European Union
• UK Gambling operators must protect vulnerable persons and children by putting into effect procedures and policies designed to prevent underage gambling while the gambling business or casino must constantly monitor the effectiveness
• UK Gambling Commission licensed remote gambling operators must ensure players have access to information on how to gamble responsibly. Remote gambling operators must also help in terms of problem gambling, this includes offering services in compliance with the gambling act., such as reality checks, self-exclusion with time out durations ranging from 24 hours to six weeks and help in controlling and monitoring gambling sessions in all languages offered
• The UK Gambling Commission focuses on social responsibility, this includes interacting of Great Britain gambling license holders with players to minimise the risk of gambling harm by identifying those at risk in the most responsible manner and effective way
• Self-exclusion must be available and procedures must include the prevention of any marketing material sent to players by removing the details of self-excluded players or members from the marketing database. The accounts must be closed and the casino must use effective procedures to ensure the player cannot gamble or gain access to gambling during the self-excluded period
• Self-exclusion periods must be offered for periods of 6 months or longer up to a period of at least five years
• It is an offence to employ children under the age of 16 to offer facilities for gambling
• Remote casinos must have an effective policy or policies in place to identify separate accounts held by one individual
• Casinos must provide the commission with evidence if so required that all terms are fair
• Remote gambling service businesses need to adhere to the data protection act 1998 of local authorities created to protect players’ privacy
• Players must have access to a guide to betting and gaming opportunities covering when bets are void, treatment of late bets or errors, treatment of withdrawals, and maximum payouts
• Bonus and rewards conditions must be available and include all terms and conditions clearly set out
• Online casinos must offer appropriate procedures and policies for handling disputes and complaints in a transparent, open and timely manner while offering services free of charge ADR services

COMPLAINTS AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION

The UKGC takes all the steps necessary to ensure that non-remote and remote casinos and other gambling service businesses follow the files in promotion gambling and interact with players. Those not adhering to the rules are investigated and action is taken which includes the UKGC imposing financial penalties, issuing warnings, a licence condition attachment, amendment or removal of licence conditions, license suspension or revoking of licenses.

PROCEDURES IN FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THE UK GAMBLING COMMISSION

The UK Gambling Commission’s main focus is to protect players and therefore the commission makes it possible for non-remote and remote players to file a dispute via the procedures in place. The first step is to contact the casino or site by addressing the issue in writing and keeping a record of all communication whether by phone or email. It requires the player to keep a detailed log of all responses and communications during the resolution process.

Should the player be unhappy or feel that the resolution is unfair, the dispute is normally addressed via an ADR or alternative dispute resolution party. The group adhering to such depends on the betting segment, see the list on the UK Gambling Commission site. Should ruling remain unsatisfactory the complaint goes into the civil court system.

SLOT SITES AND REMOTE GAMBLING OPERATORS LICENSED BY THE UK GAMBLING COMMISSION

The rules and regulations the UK Gambling Commission have in place makes the United Kingdom one of the safest and most fair jurisdictions in the world. The involvement of the government and other companies to ensure a safer, crime-free gaming environment holds benefits to all.

The main advantages of playing at UKGC regulated online casinos and slot sites are unmatched by any other licensing authority. This includes benefits such as fair gaming, player protection, operator accountability, reasonable terms and conditions, safe-keeping of player funds, transparency and many other advantages.

Due to the strict licensing and legal requirements of the UKGC, the constant monitoring and the enforcement of regulations. TheSlotBuzz promotes online casinos and slot sites regulated by the UKGC offering exceptional services, fair gaming, value-focused bonuses, outstanding welcome offers with reasonable wagering and other bonus requirements, and games created by UKGC regulated software providers.