UK Gambling Commission maps out new enforcement strategy

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has today (Wednesday) unveiled details of its new enforcement strategy, which it will use to tackle operators that breach regulations.

Established following a consultation, the updated strategy comes into force from today, and the national regulatory body has urged all operators active in the UK market to familiarise themselves with the updated policy.

Changes to the strategy include alterations to the UKGC’s statement on financial penalties, such as introducing higher fines for breaches, particularly with cases that involve systemic and repeated failings.

The UKGC also intends to place all regulatory tools, including licence reviews of both the operator and personal management licences, on an equal footing by removing current bias in favour of settlement.

In addition, the UKGC will begin to use time-limited discounts to create more of an incentive to settle cases earlier.

Sarah Harrison, chief executive of the UKGC, said: “We will use the full range of enforcement powers to ensure operators put customers first and raise standards.

“The industry can be assured that we will use our powers in a targeted way, and consumers and the public can be assured we will take robust and effective action when gambling companies don’t meet their obligations.”

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