Following a new study, the Betting and Gaming Council issued another warning: Increasing wagering restrictions could lead to black market gambling.
CEO Michael Dugher stated that the latest research shows a “genuine concern” of millions of punters, with decision-makers being viewed as “outof touch” and “never having a bet in a life.”
According to a YouGov survey, 80 percent of respondents worry that increased restrictions will “prohibit” customers from visiting unregulated sites.
Dugher stated that they want non-intrusive checks that use technology to target and protect vulnerable punters. However, intrusive blanket checks at low levels will be rejected by punters.
A report also states that 79% of punters believed that increasing restrictions would lead to people moving to “unregulated websites”, where there are no limitations.
Additional findings include the fact that 70% of Brits would consider switching to a different bookmaker, if asked for “private financial documents” to place a wager.
Dugher said, “Any intrusive, blanket approach to gambling could have the opposite effect and push them into an unregulated, unsafe black market that offers no safer gambling tools such as time outs or deposit limits. It doesn’t support either the economy nor the sport, and doesn’t pay any tax.
“Ministers should listen more to millions of punters who enjoy Cheltenham than to a small, snobbish group of anti-gambling prohibitionists.”
This study is being done as punters get ready for Cheltenham Festival which is expected to see 280,000 people. It will generate an estimated PS274m in local economic activity and an estimated PS1bn for stakes across four days.
