The BGC has concerns that strict affordability checks on UK gambling operators will drive more people towards black market sites. [Image: Shutterstock.com]
Warning
The chief executive of the UK’s Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has warned of the potential for tougher checks on affordability. He cited a recent study that looked at the UK’s use of unlicensed gambling platforms during the recent FIFA World Cup.
The restrictions are turning more people towards black market platforms
Daghr believes the data highlights some trends regarding the use of unlicensed black market gambling sites. He believes that further restrictions lead to more people turning towards black market platforms. Dagher called on the government not to introduce “intrusive blanket affordability checks at low levels that drive more punters to these dangerous sites”.
Strict checks will likely be on the way
The potential introduction of tougher affordability checks has been one of the more controversial topics during the UK government’s review of gambling legislation. Reports last year claimed that stricter checks would be part of the government’s white paper on proposed changes to gambling legislation.
These security checks are reportedly required for users if their net loss is less than £100 (US$124) in one month or £500 (US$618) in the period of a year. Detailed checks are likely to be necessary for people who have made a net loss of £2,000 ($2,472) in a 90-day period.
It is still not known when the UK government will publish its white paper
After many delays, it is still not known when the UK government will actually publish its white paper. The BGC clearly believes there is still time to influence the proposals that are part of this white paper.
regarding directions
The study Dagher cited mentioned this 250,000 people in the region accessed unlicensed websites in December. The study was conducted by Yield Sec on behalf of BGC, highlighting that there was a more than triple increase in the number of people accessing these sites in December 2021.
One interesting recent statistic was that the number of TV betting advertisements during the World Cup group stage decreased by 34% compared to the previous World Cup in 2018. The BGC believes that the decrease reflects the introduction of whistle bans by the operators.
The FIFA World Cup is likely to be an important reason for the increase in activity. For the past year as a whole, there was a 46% annual increase in the number of people accessing black market sites in the average month.
Unlicensed gambling sites can be unsafe and often do not have proper safe gambling tools. These operators pay no UK tax and contribute no money to problem gambling services. Vulnerable players who may be excluded from using UK Gambling Commission licensed sites can also bypass their ban using black market platforms.
