UK Lawmaker Says UKGC May Have Grown Past Its Usefulness

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.

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Last updated: January 28, 2023

Gaming regulators are sometimes the target of hostility without warrant from certain players in the industry since their job is to make sure operators abide by the rules. However, the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) is also receiving criticisms from political figures, with the UK lawmaker Philip Davies labeling it as “out of control.”

The UKGC has a proven track record of prosecuting gaming operators who allegedly failed to abide by its policies. It has collected fines and penalties totaling more than $100 million in the last few years from companies such as Entain and 888 UK Limited.

The UKGC also frequently targets the creation of a stricter industry. Sometimes, it asserts that consumers should not have the freedom to choose how they want to spend their own money. Davies, who is a member of parliament, believes that the regulator may have grown past its usefulness.

UKGC Does Not Have the Necessary Gambling Knowledge

Following the revelations made by the Racing Post, Philip Davies criticized the UKGC. The media outlet reported about the overzealous measures the UKGC took against poker player and bookmaker Joe Beevers.

The regulator wants Beevers to prove not only his own financial stability but also that of his friends who may have sent him payments. As part of the UKGC’s effort to control who spends on gambling, the regulator requested bank statements from each of them.

The outrageous requests caused Beevers to deactivate two of his online betting accounts. But he still has other options he can choose from, including offshore platforms.

It is evident that the Gambling Commission is out of control and that its leaders have no gambling-related knowledge, says Philip Davies.

According to Davies, the regulator is out of line for asking gamblers and bettors for sensitive financial information. He continues by saying the UKGC is “out of control” and no longer “fit for purpose.”

Davies is known for being an outspoken member of parliament. However, he is not the only person who believes that the gaming regulator may need to go in a different direction. The author of “Gambling For Life: The Man Who Won Millions And Spent Every Penny,” Harry Findlay, says that the UKGC does not know what it is doing.

Impact of the Actions of the UKGC Is Already Being Felt

Governmental inaction on gambling reform appears to have given the UKGC free reign over the gaming industry. For the past few years, the UK has been trying to work on new gambling laws, but it has frequently delayed the release of a fresh white paper that would set gaming policy.

The impact of the actions of the UKGC is already evident. According to Arena Racing Company, turnover for betting on horse races dropped US$992.48 million (£800 million) last year. Because of this, the sport had a US$49.61 million (£40 million) hole.

The results from 2021 support the fact that this has been a reoccurring pattern in the last few years. The introduction of a US$2.40 (£2) limit on online slot spending resulted in a reported loss of US$1.48 billion (£1.2 billion). Operators of iGaming still reported losses last year.

A lot of companies have exited the UK market, although they didn’t point the finger at the UKGC. Making a profit, however, is undoubtedly getting more difficult under the UKGC and this has been so for years.