Gambling Commission pledges “even tougher” action against operators over VIP management
UK regulator says operators must “make faster progress” on VIP practices following Guardian report
The Gambling Commission (UKGC) has vowed to take “even tougher” action against online gambling operators failing to protect players following a recent media investigation into the industry’s reliance on VIPs.
The comments come after The Guardian newspaper’s freedom of information (FOI) request into the levels of VIP players at UK-licensed operators.
Responding to the request, the UKGC released a statement saying it had been acting to address so-called “poor practice” by operators in respect of VIPs for some time but pledged to do more.
“Operators must improve their interaction with VIPs, and we have challenged the industry to make faster progress to improve how they manage their customers.
“We have also taken robust action against operators who fail to protect consumers and we will be even tougher if behaviour does not change,” the regulator added.
The UKGC report, released in response to the FOI, examines the percentage of VIP players gambling with nine unnamed UK operators, against the percentage of total deposits made by VIP players.
Within the report, seen by EGR, the UKGC suggested a number of follow-up actions and compliance-led review of operator practices, including the assessment of VIP managers and an investigation of how they are remunerated by operators.
The UKGC has said it may also conduct a review of the offers and incentives provided to VIP players as well scrutinise the way VIP managers communicate with their customers.
In addition, the report suggests a ban on operators assigning VIP status as part of 10 follow-up actions targeting the sector.
One of the actions highlighted, the development of a VIP code of conduct for operators, is currently underway after having been launched by the Betting and Gaming Council in November.
The code is expected to be released during the first half of this year.