Neil McArthur, Gambling Commission Chief Executive, said: "Britain has the largest regulated online gambling market in the world, and we are continually looking for ways to make it even fairer and safer for consumers.
"The proposals we have announced are intended to protect children better, reduce the risks to vulnerable consumers and build on the measures we already impose on operators to know their customers and intervene at an earlier stage before consumers experience harm," McArthur added.
Tracey Crouch, Minister for Sport and Civil Society, commented: "We are committed to ensuring the gambling industry is safe and sustainable. These proposals for additional regulations will strengthen the controls already in place and further safeguard children and vulnerable people from the risks of online gambling."
It is estimated that nine million people across Britain gamble online.
Proposed changes and action include:
- Further protecting children by banning operators from providing free-to-play demo games until a consumer's age has been determined.
- Improving the speed and effectiveness of age verification processes.
- Ensuring operators set limits on consumers' spending until affordability checks have been conducted.
- Tackling unacceptable marketing and advertising and unfair terms, and improving complaints and disputes procedures.
- Strengthening requirements to interact with consumers who may be experiencing, or are at risk of developing, problems with their gambling.
- The review also identifies five areas where the Commission is undertaking further work during the coming year.
Source: GMB
