Guidance for safer online gambling

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), alongside its social media partner Twitter, has offered new advice to consumers who may be struggling with gambling habits during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The guidance issued covers online gambling measures that can limit spending, information on self-exclusion, and links to relevant charities. It comes as the UK enters its sixth week of lockdown, with more than 20,000 coronavirus-related deaths recorded to date.

User control over social media ad visibility

Earlier this year, the UKGC partnered with a social network for the first time. It is currently working with Twitter to give platform users greater control over what advertising messages they can see. Advertising is a current hot issue in gambling, although some operators have now vowed not to advertise at all during lockdown.

greater control over what advertising messages they can see

The commission isn’t just offering guidance on adjusting safety tools and settings for social media, though. It also highlights control settings on gambling websites which allow players to set payment limits, so they don’t spend more than they can afford. If needed, consumers can also self-exclude from gambling altogether.

Customers urged to verify license compliance

One thing the UKGC highlights that consumers may not know is that gambling companies need to be registered with the commission to allow UK customers to play. Any operators that do not comply with the requirement are acting illegally, and may not be following important safety checks and regulations imposed by the commission.

Customers are prompted to check the Gambling Commission License Register to verify that operators are compliant. They can also see whether the company in question has been hit with any fines or stipulations and why.

Access to T&Cs, personal information

Finally, the advice published on the Gambling Commission’s website highlights that customers must be allowed access to all terms and conditions of a gambling site. This includes having visibility of what happens to their personal information, as well as readily available bonus stipulations and payout conditions.

users should have full rights to their gambling history

This also means users should have full rights to their gambling history, and they can report an operator if it fails to disclose their previous bets. Individuals can therefore make a decision as to whether they are gambling safely or not.

For those who need additional help, the UKGC has recommended that customers ring the National Gambling Helpline in the first instance. The service can offer advice and support for problem gamblers in the UK.