Most of the New Requirements Will Take Effect on the Earlier Scheduled Date

By John Isaac,
Editor at online-gambling.com

John Isaac Editor at online-gambling.com

John Isaac is an editor with many years of experience in the gambling industry. He writes expert articles on card games like blackjack and poker. In addition, he is also well aware of the US gambling laws and the Indian and Dutch gambling markets. You can rely on verified information and insightful details.

• Twitter
• Email

More About John Isaac

Last updated: September 3, 2022

The United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) has released an update on the implementation of its new remote customer interaction guidance and requirements. The body has also postponed the date some of the requirements will take effect. The regulator also advises gaming regulators to take the contents of the announcement into consideration.

The Gambling Commission released a new set of requirements in April 2022. The requirements are meant to ensure that companies do more in identifying and protect customers who are at risk of harm. The instructions to assist operators respect the requirements were released in June. Both the guidance and requirements were supposed to take effect on September 12.

The regulator has noted that the industry asked for the initial date scheduled to implement these requirements to be delayed. This extension request was because of the technical difficulties some companies said they are experiencing in delivering complete compliance by the deadline. Despite this, the regulator has mentioned that most of the new requirements will still go into effect on September 12 as scheduled.

Some Requirements Will Not Take Effect in September

The UKGC stated that remote gambling operators already have a responsibility to create an effective customer interaction. The body mentioned that the new requirements mirror the small actions they consider are essential to meet this obligation.

The UKGC has, however, also decided that some requirements won’t go into effect in September. The provisions excluded include the requirement to take prompt action when vulnerability indicators are detected. Another exclusion is also the requirement to stop marketing and the approval of new bonus offers when there are clear harm indicators.

The UKGC stated that in light of the extension, it would be valuable to use the time that is now available to do more discussions on topics that need to be covered in the guidance connected with SR Code 3.4.3. The body mentions that the requirement to consider the guidance of the Commission on customer interaction for remote operators will also not start in September.

The UKGC Calls the Guidance “A Living Document” That Will Be Modified Over Time

According to the UK gambling regulator, the guidance is “a living document” that will be changed over time. The body also says it will be specifically curious in hearing about best practices in carrying out the requirements. These practices are based on the lessons the operators learned between April and September. The body also said that it will love to know about “any implications arising out of recent research, evidence, and casework.”

The UKGC stated that the consultation would likely be launched at the end of September and is expected to last six weeks. The body also mentioned that it would carefully consider all opinions mentioned about the six weeks consultation. These opinions will be considered before deciding on guidance contents on the new rules.

The Commission’s tentative plan, which is a matter of discussion, is for the guidance on the requirements to be published in December 2022 and take effect two months after it has been published. The commission intends the discussion for the remaining requirements of SR Code 3.4.3 and the related guidance to take effect on February 12, 2023.