Regulatory changes to affect players
The Gambling Commission's (UKGC) regulatory changes continue. Recent months have seen the controversial introduction of both stake limits and financial background checks, to both incredulity and backlash.
The next round of legislative updates are impending, although they’re not expected to be met with such strong resistance. Instead, these are generally sensible and calculated changes, designed to help players directly, without intruding.
There are three main changes we’ll be discussing: bans on overbearing advertisements, improved customer service requirements, and a very welcome limit to wagering requirements.
Mixed product promotion ban
Mixed product promotions require players to take part in multiple different types of gambling to qualify. For example, casinos with sportsbooks might offer a bonus to players who place a bet on a particular sport and wager a certain amount on a specific slot game.
From 19 December these will be banned completely. The reason for this, according to the Commission, is that “evidence shows consumers are more at risk of harm when they gamble on multiple products rather than a single product”. Also, there is an increased “risk that mixed product promotions confuse consumers”.
For some casinos, this will mean rethinking their promotion strategy. This ban aims to clarify bonuses, making the process of claiming them more player-friendly, so it’s generally good news for customers. The fewer hoops that players have to jump through, the better.
Wagering requirements limited
It’s no secret that we take an anti-wagering stance! So we’re delighted to see that the UKGC will be capping wagering requirements. Some wagering requirements are absurdly high. 35x or 40x is the average, and it’s not uncommon to see them double this. In an admirable move, the UKGC is putting a 10x limit on them.
For anyone who isn’t already aware, wagering requirements state that players need to re-wager their free spin winnings a number of times before they can be withdrawn. This gives the casino many chances to claim back the bonus, reducing the promo’s value to the player.
Here’s an example of how wagering requirements currently work: If you claimed a 100 free spins bonus with 50x wagering requirements, you might initially win £9.60. These winnings would have to be wagered through until a total of £480 had been staked (£9.60 x 50 = £480).
This cap may have the effect of making some bonuses less appealing at face value, but their overall value should increase. Also, it will take a lot less time and cause a lot less frustration for players to claim these bonuses.
The 10x wagering cap, which is also coming into effect on 19 December, is sure to ruffle the feathers of a few casinos, but it’s great news for players. We have always championed no and low-wagering casinos, so we’re delighted to see this change.
Improving customer choice on direct marketing
Other changes that should be welcomed include new marketing regulations. New rules set by the UKGC will give customers more control over the marketing materials and promotions they see.
Many casinos spam their customers with unwanted emails and text messages, and these often relate to products the customer isn’t even interested in. From 1 May, casinos will have to:
- Give customers the choice of which products they hear about.
- Let customers select the methods of communication by which they receive marketing.
- Change their systems so that customers are opted out of all messages by default.
- Require existing customers to confirm or update their preferences.
This might make marketing more difficult for casinos, but it means that players will only receive the marketing messages that are most relevant to them. The ability to tailor and customise the messages you receive will likely be welcomed by many.
Summary
These positive changes to regulations make for a refreshing change. In the wake of the UKGC’s heavy-handed introduction of stake limits and financial checks, we welcome these improvements to UK gambling legislation. We’re not shy about criticising the regulator when necessary, but it should be credited for these latest moves.
It’s possible that certain casinos, and perhaps the Betting and Gaming Council, might be resistant. However, the bottom line is that limits on wagering requirements, bans on mixed product promos, and improvements to customer service are in the best interests of players.
