The question of what has become of the Government's pledge to enact new regulations has been raised after William Hill was fined a record £19 million for failing to protect clients.
William Hill allowed one customer to open a new account and spend £23,000 in 20 minutes. Another set up their account and spent £18,000 in 24 hours, while a third spent £32,500 over two days – all without any checks.
Other cases include one person being able to spend and lose £70,134 in a month, while another deposited £73,535 and lost £14,068 in four months.
As the betting shop’s failings have been described by the regulator as “widespread and alarming”, we look at what legal protections are supposed to be in place in the UK.
What are the laws around gambling?
Gambling in the United Kingdom is regulated by the Gambling Commission on behalf of the Government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS), under the Gambling Act 2005.
This Act of Parliament significantly updated the UK‘s gambling laws, including the introduction of a new structure of protections for children and vulnerable adults, as well as bringing the burgeoning internet gaming sector within British regulation for the first time.
The act outlines its main goals as:
- Preventing gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, being associated with crime or disorder, or being used to support crime
- Ensuring that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way
- Protecting children and other vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling
Companies are required to conduct checks to find and get in touch with consumers who might be at risk of harm from gambling as part of the licensing requirements for betting firms.
Additionally, they must ensure that the funds being used for gambling are legal and aren't linked to or supporting illegal behaviour, such as money laundering.
What is being proposed?
Since December 2020, a white paper on gambling has been promised, but the date has been continuously pushed back.
The white paper is anticipated to contain policies requiring businesses to verify that prospective clients can afford the bets they intend to make. However, the industry has been lobbying against the changes and ministers have been preoccupied with other complex issues, such as the regulation of online gambling, advertising, and a mandatory tax on businesses to fund the treatment of problem gambling.
Where to get help for gambling issues
If you believe your gambling is getting out of control, GamCare, a nonprofit organisation that offers information, advice, and support to anyone affected by gambling problems, advises taking the following steps:
• Speak to a friend or relative. Sharing your worries with someone can be a crucial first step in preventing your gambling from becoming out of control, even if they are unable to offer immediate assistance.
• Limit access to gambling websites. Leveraging useful tools can be beneficial. The software company Gamban prevents access to betting websites, and Gamstop offers a free self-exclusion service from websites.
• Your card should have banking blocks. Nowadays, a lot of retail banks let customers prohibit transactions from gaming businesses.
As well as GamCare, if you need help, Be Gamble Aware offers support. You can also call the national Freephone 24-7 helpline 0808 8020 133.
