IBAS “ready” to step into ombudsman role 12 months after white paper release
Dispute resolution service says it is “uniquely positioned” to take on role outlined in the white paper into the Gambling Act 2005 review last April, but is yet to be fulfilled
The Independent Betting Adjudication Service (IBAS) has reiterated it is ready to take on the role of Gambling Ombudsman and that it wants to partner with the government and the industry facilitate the move.
The dispute resolution service released a statement on the one-year anniversary of the white paper into the Gambling Act 2005 review, in which it once again laid out its stall for taking on the remit.
The white paper proposed the establishment of an industry ombudsman to deal with consumer complaints, with the government having committed to working with “industry and all stakeholders in the sector” to create a fully operationally independent ombudsman.
When the white paper was released in April 2023, the government said it expected the ombudsman to begin accepting complaints within a year – a timeframe that has now passed.
The government has noted that should the established ombudsman not deliver as expected it would legislate to introduce a statutory ombudsman instead.
Following the passing of that 12-month window, IBAS has once again banged the drum, claiming its decades of experience in dealing with player complaints makes it “uniquely positioned” to take on the role of Gambling Ombudsman.
Since being launched by a group of former Sporting Life journalists in 1998, the service has made over 90,000 adjudications based on player complaints against gambling operators. These complaints range from how a bet is settled to whether a player has met the conditions of a particular bonus offer.
IBAS said: “The push for an ombudsman signals a shared dedication to safeguarding consumers, addressing social responsibility and gambling harm concerns.
“We are ready to step into the ombudsman role with a robust consumer-focused plan, pending the support of key stakeholders and agreement of an appropriate funding model.
“The push for an ombudsman signals a shared dedication to safeguarding consumers, addressing social responsibility and gambling harm concerns.”
The service concluded: “The IBAS board, free from gambling operator influence, is dedicated to maintaining its independence while working collaboratively to establish a respected Gambling Ombudsman, ensuring that gambling consumers receive the support they deserve without undue delay.”
IBAS first made moves to become the UK Gambling Ombudsman in August 2022, nearly a year prior to the publication of the white paper.
In September 2022, IBAS MD Richard Hayler told EGR that the service has what it takes to become the inaugural Gambling Ombudsman.