The Gambling Commission is an independent statutory decision-making body that regulates gambling in Great Britain. The commission is responsible for ensuring that gambling is conducted in a fair and transparent manner, and takes action against illegal gambling. It also issues licences to and works with operators to ensure compliance with licensing conditions.
What Does the Gambling Commission Do?
The Gambling Commission regulates commercial gambling in Great Britain. This includes casinos, arcades, bingo clubs, bookmakers, slot machines, and lotteries, as well as remote gambling (online and by phone). The commission also regulates the National Lottery.
The Gambling Commission’s responsibilities include ensuring that
•Gambling is conducted in a fair and open way
•Children and vulnerable people are protected
•Crime is kept out of gambling
Operators must comply with a number of conditions and codes of practice, including those on advertising, anti-money laundering, customer interaction, data protection and social responsibility
The commission also works with licensees to ensure that they comply with their licence conditions and codes of practice. This includes taking enforcement action where necessary. Enforcement action can range from suspending or revoking a licence to imposing financial penalties.
The Gambling Commission is funded by the money it makes from licensing fees and from fines imposed on operators who breach their licence conditions or codes of practice
How Does the Gambling Commission Protect Players?
The Gambling Commission takes player protection very seriously. Operators must have measures in place to keep crime out of gambling and protect children and vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling
Operators must also have measures in place to prevent customers from being misled about bonuses, jackpots, odds or other aspects of gambling products. And they must be able to resolve complaints quickly and effectively
The commission has published guidance on what operators should do to meet these requirements. Operators who breach these requirements may face enforcement action from the commission
In addition, the commission has published player protection guidance for remote casino operators. This includes guidance on age and identity verification, self-exclusion, managing money laundering risks and problem gambling prevention. Remote casino operators must follow this guidance or they may face enforcement action from the commission
The commission also offers free advice and support to anyone who is worried about their own or someone else’s gambling through its website www.BeGambleAware.org
Conclusion
The Gambling Commission is responsible for regulating commercial gambling in Great Britain, including casinos, arcades, bingo clubs, bookmakers, slot machines, lotteries, and remote gambling (online and by phone). The commission’s responsibilities include ensuring that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way; protecting children and vulnerable people; keeping crime out of gambling; issuing licenses; working with operators to ensure compliance with licensing conditions; taking enforcement action where necessary; publishing player protection guidance; and offering free advice and support to anyone who is worried about their own or someone else’s gambling through its website.