The GB Gambling Commission released its evidence gaps paper and priorities for the three-year period between 2023-2026. This document focuses on regulatory areas that require evidence-based development.
This document outlines the Commission’s plans for a research-based approach to several key areas including the use of gateway gambling products, gambling experiences, and gambling harms.
The course also covers operator characteristics, practices and risks as well as criminality.
Tim Miller, Executive Director of Research and Policy at the Gambling Commission said that evidence is a major part of the Commission’s work in regards to industry regulation.
Miller said, “At Gambling Commission, we are people-focused and evidence-led.” “This means that we recognise better data, research, and better evidence, will lead to a better gambling regulation, and better outcomes for gambling consumers, their communities, and the gambling industry itself.”
Miller stressed that the paper was not just about what the Commission could do, but what challenges the industry may face in the future.
Miller added, “This paper aims to highlight the challenges that lie ahead and ask the questions we need answered.” We can all help answer those questions.
Evidence-based research
The Commission will examine the gambling behavior of people aged under 16, those between 16 and 17, and young adults between 18 and 24 years of age.
Specific evidence will be collected on how children begin to gamble and how their gambling behavior changes over time.
In order to address this issue, the Commission is going to continue working with youth and will expand its reach so that it includes 17-year-olds.
The Commission will use the new Gambling Survey for Great Britain to gain a better understanding of the national gambling experience and will also add certain aspects to its Path to Play framework.
Harms associated with gambling
In order to address gambling-related harms, the Commission will examine how players can experience harms differently and improve their methods to identify those who are at risk of gambling injury. It will again use the Gambling Survey of Great Britain to analyze which groups are suffering gambling harm.
The qualitative research will be conducted on the subject.
The Commission will also examine how operator practices affect customer behaviour by examining whether operators can do more to enforce safer gaming practices and conducting consumer studies.
In order to investigate product characteristics and risks, the Commission will analyse how certain products may pose a higher risk of harm to certain customers. In order to investigate, the Commission will have access to more account-level information.
Research will be conducted to determine the level of consumer knowledge about illegal gambling operations. The research questions will focus on why people might bet illegally and how they can tell if the operator is unlicensed.
Earlier today (23 May) the Commission ordered SkillOnNet to pay PS305,150 (EUR350,351/$378,299) in relation to several anti-money laundering and social responsibility failings.
