‘UKGC Stay Safe When Gambling Guide Issued Today!’ (image source: unsplash.com)
Alongside health bodies, charities, and other gambling regulators, the UK Gambling Commission has always been at the forefront of pushing for a safer online gambling environment for UK players. From the licensing authority’s ‘Stay Safe When Gambling Guide’, to enforcing strict rules and regulations to iGaming authorities that wish to serve UK players, the commission has consistently aimed to minimise gambling harms and provide support to those that suffer from gambling addiction.
The UKGC is responsible for regulating gambling in the United Kingdom and for supervising British gaming laws. Any online casino, sports betting site, or any other gambling platform licensed by the UKGC has to adhere to a variety of rules and regulations.
The UKGC also consistently pushes for new changes to gambling laws to further create a safer environment for UK gamblers. Just recently, the commission announced strict new measures iGaming companies will have to adhere to by the 31st of October this year.
The primary focus of these regulations is the most popular type of online gambling, video slot games at online casinos. The stakes, speed of spins, and their simplicity to play make them an attractive proposition for new players that do not understand the rules of table games such as Roulette, Blackjack, and Baccarat.
Among the new measures includes the banning of automatic spins which could lead to players losing focus on their spending and bonus features which increase the speed of spins. In fact, the measures dictate that no spin should yield a result in less than 2.5 seconds.
Some of what the UKGC demands from licensees include:
- Promote responsible gambling
- Protect financial transactions using 128-bit SSL encryption technology
- Create privacy policies to protect players information and data
- Provide resources and support for problem gamblers
- Include accessible self-exclusion features
- Follow KYC and AML guidelines to prevent minors from gambling
Stay Safe When Gambling Guide – Safer Gambling
Alongside regulating iGaming platforms and ensuring they follow rules and regulations designed to protect players, the UKGC has a website which features numerous resources a player can use to help ensure a safer gambling experience. Known as the ‘Safer Gambling Guide’ this resource contains articles offering guidance, advice, and support for anyone that suffers from gambling addiction.
- Consumer Guides – The article features over a dozen consumer guides on numerous subjects such as how to keep yourself safe when gambling, understanding RTP (return-to-player percentages), and what to look for before gambling.
- Scams and Frauds – An article detailing the common scams and frauds that target gamblers. Punters will learn what to look out for and what to do if they identify or fall victim to a scam.
- Why ID Verification is Important – An article explaining the ID verification is used to prevent minors, players who previously self-excluded, or players using criminal proceeds from playing.
- Tools to Help Control How Much Time and Money a Person Spends Gambling – This article explains the tools and features players can use to limit how long and how much they gamble.
- Where Gamblers can go for Help – A guide designed to help those who believe they have a gambling problem. It provides advice and the contact details of prominent problem gambling organisations such as Gambleaware and Gamcare.
- Self-Exclusion – An article detailing what self-exclusion is, and why iGaming providers have to stick to the agreement.
Anyone affected by problem gambling whether directly or through a family member just how destructive it can be. This is why the stance the UKGC consistently takes should be applauded. If any of you have a problem or think you may have a problem, the UKGC website is a great place to start. Gamble responsibly or stop gambling altogether.
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