24Nov

Gambling Commission – AML Guidance Update and Advice

24th November 2020 Ting Fung 56

Updates have been made to The prevention of money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism Guidance for remote and non-remote casinos: fifth edition. The revised edition was published on the 13 November 2020 and includes amendments to paragraph 1.55 to incorporate the new licence conditions 15.2.3(2) and (3). The new licence conditions came into effect under the updated Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (“LCCP”) on 31 October 2020 and introduced the following reporting requirements:

Licensees must, within 14 days of the appointment, notify the Commission of the identity of the individual appointed as:
the officer responsible for the licensee’s compliance with the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on Payer) Regulations 2017 (regulation 21(1)(a)),
the nominated officer (regulation 21(3)),

and any subsequent appointment to either of those positions.

Licensees must, within 14 days of the departure or removal of any individual appointed to the positions mentioned in 2 above, notify the Commission of such departure or removal.

A minor typographical correction was also made to paragraph 6.120.

In addition, the Duties and responsibilities under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002: fourth edition was also revised at paragraph 5.2 to highlight new reporting requirements in the latest LCCP, and correct a typographical error at paragraph 20.54.

Both of the documents came into effect immediately.

24Nov

The Gambling Commission’s First National Strategic Assessment

24th November 2020 Ting Fung 59

On 6 November 2020 the Gambling Commission published its first National Strategic Assessment (“NSA”) alongside its annual, Raising Standards for consumers – Compliance and Enforcement report 2019 to 2020.

What is it?

The NSA is a document comprised of the latest available evidence with the aim of assessing the issues and risks associated with gambling related harm. Gambling Commission Chief Executive, Neil McArthur has stated:

“We will use our National Strategic Assessment as the foundation for prioritising our work over the coming months and years.”

In the accompanying press release, Neil McArthur adds:

“We look forward to working with the government on the forthcoming review of the Gambling Act and alongside that work we will be working hard to address the issues that we have identiﬁed in our Strategic Assessment.
We have demonstrated that we are willing and able to respond quickly to emerging issues and risks and that we will use the full range of our powers to protect consumers. We and have made considerable progress in many areas to make gambling safer – but we want to go further and faster.”

The report outlines the Gambling Commission’s assessment of the key issues faced in making gambling fairer, safer and crime free, and sets out the priority actions and an overview of progress that has been made since 2019.

The Gambling Commission acknowledges that whilst neither gambling participation nor problem gambling rates are increasing, the continually evolving landscape of gambling presents new risks and ongoing challenges. In the Executive Summary the Gambling Commission states:

“We must see the industry doing more to proactively identify and address the risks within their businesses. An approach to raising standards for consumers which is heavily dependent on the Commission using its formal regulatory powers will continue to damage the industry’s reputation, restrict activities and result in escalating penalties.”

The regulator maintains that the best and most sustainable way forward is for operators to allow the distinction between regulatory and commercial considerations to diminish if not disappear altogether.

How will it work?

The Gambling Commission will use “priority actions” to target relevant risks and issues whilst highlighting areas where significant progress has been made. Assessment is built on four “pillars” relating to:

the Person gambling (Chapter 1);
the Place gambling occurs (Chapter 2);
the Products available to customers (Chapter 3); and
the Provider of facilities for gambling (Chapter 4).

The NSA is structured around these pillars, which are coupled with sections on measuring the effectiveness of gambling regulation (Chapter 5), Covid-19 and its impact on gambling consumers (Chapter 6) and the timeline for action (Annex 1).

The NSA is essential reading for any Gambling Commission licensee. Unsurprisingly, the content is closely aligned to the Compliance and Enforcement Report (see our blog on 18 November 2020), published on the same day, and there is a strong emphasis on affordability (Chapter 1, pages 14-18). We strongly encourage B2Cs to review this section carefully, particularly figure 7 and the “clearly unaffordable gambling” case studies.

The NSA’s scope of evidence aims to be wide ranging, drawing on:

the Gambling Commission’s own compliance and enforcement work;
its advisory bodies, the Advisory Board for Safer Gambling as well as the Digital Advisory Panel;
the Interim Experts by Experience Group (involving those with direct experience of gambling related harm);
industry colleagues and representatives; and
the findings of recent Parliamentary reports (see here).

Why now?

Such a document is no doubt in line with the Gambling Commission’s licensing objectives and follows on from regulatory action and research that the Gambling Commission has already performed (see Annex 1 of the NSA for a timeline of action). However, it is also arguable that the speed and depth of their action is partially motivated by the House of Commons’ Public Accounts Committee assessment in June this year that more and faster action was needed by the Gambling Commission to protect vulnerable customers and consumers’ rights to redress. Neil McArthur seems to echo this in his above statement that “[the Gambling Commission” want[s] to go further and faster” with its progress.

What to expect next?

The NSA includes numerous “GC actions” throughout. We have summarised these, by chapter, as follows:

Chapter 1: the Person gambling

In response to the key issues and risks regarding:

ineffective KYC approaches including affordability checks;
delayed and ineffective responses to at-risk behaviours;
inadequate controls for more engaged gamblers;
underage gambling; and
gaps in evidence and understanding of gambling-related harms.

The Gambling Commission proposes to act on the following:

Consultations regarding more effective KYC and early identification and effective responses to at-risk behaviour, to include: responding to and implementing the Gambling Commission’s customer interaction consultation on themes of affordability, vulnerability and identifying and acting on harm indicators, including the management of high value customers. In addition, the Gambling Commission will issue a consultation on streamlining the approach to tracking of gambling participation and prevalence of at-risk and problem gambling, with the aim of implementing consultation outcomes in 2021. The Gambling Commission also intends to publish a statement setting out the principles and key areas of work in its approach to vulnerability.
Developing first-rate evidence to inform regulation and legislation, including but not limited to: added questions to the Gambling Commission’s quarterly online omnibus survey to understand the public’s experience of gambling-related harms; longitudinal study of gambling behaviours and problem gambling to inform future improvements to gambling research; a permanent advisory body (Experts by Experience) to build on the Gambling Commission’s interim arrangements.
Developing risk-based approach to harm minimisation in response to more engaged gamblers, such as, developing solutions to provide a ‘single customer view’, and including an updated approach to and use of technology.
Regulatory powers: continued regular investigation of operators’ adherence to social responsibility code provisions and review of its commitment to Annual Assurance Statements; ensuring compliance with strengthened age verification controls and supporting industry bodies generally in their legal and regulatory oversight.

Chapter 2: the Place gambling occurs

In response to the key issues and risks regarding:

the accessibility of online gambling;
the anonymity associated with premised-based gambling; and
socially responsible advertising.

The Gambling Commission will take action in the following ways:

Partnership and industry engagement, to include: partnership with key regulators to ensure gambling is fair, safe and crime free; working with product design groups to challenge the industry to implement better consumer protections; engaging the non-remote sector and promoting initiatives that reflect the Gambling Commission’s compliance and enforcement activity elsewhere.
Research and knowledge, to include: increasing knowledge on digital industries and emerging technologies to ensure regulation remains fit for purpose and responsive to emerging risks; gathering evidence on the most effective ways to prevent bonuses being offered to consumers displaying indicators of harm; building on its interim guidance issued during the first Covid-19 lockdown; monitoring progress on the use of ad-tech to proactively target online marketing for gambling away from children, young people and those who are vulnerable to harms.
Regulatory powers: targeted actions using the Gambling Commission’s regulatory powers to continue to raise standards; monitoring the effectiveness of the Gambling Industry Code for Socially Responsible Advertising which came into effect on 1 October 2020.

Chapter 3: the Products available to customers

In response to the key issues and risks regarding:

potential harms associated with online game and platform design
regulatory risks presented by gaming machine product characteristics and environments
matching controls to the risks presented by product characteristics such as speed of play, accessibility and return to player; and
making consumer and regulatory outcomes equivalent to commercial outcomes.

The Gambling Commission will work on the following:

Consultations and responses, to include: publishing a response to the Gambling Commission’s consultation on safer game design; publishing a response to its proposal to ban reverse withdrawals.
Research and knowledge, to include: publishing the findings of the randomised controlled trials with three large operators into anchoring and commitment devices; active engagement in research programmes including the GambleAware-funded project on online patterns of play, led by NatCen.
Testing: implementing the enhanced test house framework and ensuring that the United Kingdom Accreditation Service assessments of test houses are robust and effective.

Chapter 4: the Provider of facilities for gambling

In response to the key issues and risks regarding:

transparent cooperation regarding ownership and governance;
the evolving risks presented by illegal gambling; and
upholding the licensing objective of keeping crime out of gambling.

The Gambling Commission will take the following action:

Consultations and responses, to include: publishing the response to the consultation on the Gambling Commission’s corporate governance including its approach to regulatory panels.
Research and knowledge, to include: publishing clear metrics to measure the effectiveness of regulatory interventions; increasing understanding of the scale of illegal gambling and exploring disruption techniques.
Daily operations, to include: improving data systems and capacity to ensure quicker identification of and response to consumer issues; expanding capacity and availability of accredited online investigators and necessary software tools respectively, in order to tackle illegal gambling.
Regulatory powers, to include: upholding stringent processes to assess the suitability of prospective licensees and taking swift enforcement action against non-compliant licensees; updating the Gambling Commission’s money laundering risk assessment; and continuing to support the sport and sports betting integrity action plan.

With regards to the impact of Covid-19 on gambling consumers (Chapter 6), the Gambling Commission has stated that it will continue to collect and publish data to inform on the ongoing impact and associated risks.

As stated in relation to the providers of facilities for gambling (Chapter 4), the Gambling Commission is preparing key metrics on the impact of its regulation and where it is making progress in changing the behaviours of operators. It will use these metrics along with the four pillars of assessment to help prioritise its responses to harm minimisation in the short and long term. With its evidentiary emphasis, the NSA is a foundational document for the Gambling Commission to continue to develop its regulatory approach and impact and help inform stakeholders. The Gambling Commission itself states:

“Good regulation is informed by good evidence. We continually seek to improve the evidence base; to have access to better data, to move away from just counting problem gamblers to understand more about specific gambling-related harms.”

18Nov

Gambling Commission Compliance and Enforcement Report 2019-2020

18th November 2020 Bahar Alaeddini 61

On 6 November 2020 the Gambling Commission published its annual Raising Standards for consumers – Compliance and Enforcement report 2019 to 2020 (the “Enforcement Report”). The Enforcement Report has been expanded this year and is laid out in the following eight sections:

Chief Executive’s message;
Triggers and customer affordability;
Customer interaction and social responsibility failings;
Anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing;
Personal management licence (“PML”) reviews;
Illegal gambling;
White label partnerships; and
Betting exchanges.

Chief Executive’s message

In the very first sentence of his message, Gambling Commission Chief Executive, Neil McArthur, reminded readers that:

“Holding an operating licence or a personal licence is a privilege, not a right, and we expect our licensees to protect consumers from harm and treat them fairly.”

He goes on to summarise the Gambling Commission’s compliance and enforcement work in the last financial year (April 2019 to March 2020), in which:

49 section 116 licence reviews were commenced against PML holders;
5 operating licences were suspended;
11 operating licences were revoked;
12 financial penalty packages or regulatory settlements, totalling over £30 million, were imposed; and
350 compliance assessments (land-based and online) were conducted.

Neil McArthur also emphasised:

“Those in boardrooms and senior positions need to live up to their responsibilities and we will continue to hold people to account for failings they knew, or ought to have known, about…Regulatory settlements are a way of resolving enforcement cases which we have used to good effect. Frankly, however, there are too many occasions where settlement proposals are made at a late stage of our investigation process or approached as if a licence review is a commercial dispute to be negotiated. That is not acceptable…Settlements are only suitable where a licensee is open and transparent, makes timely disclosures of the material facts, demonstrates insight into apparent failings and is able to suggest actions that would prevent the need for formal action by the Commission. Only licensees who meet those criteria need make settlement offers; licensees who choose to contest the facts before conceding at a later stage need not make offers of settlement…Everyone has a part to play to make gambling safer and learning the lessons from the failings identified in this report is one way of doing that.”

Summary of other key points from the Enforcement Report:

Triggers and customer affordability

“Customer protection has continued to be a priority for the Commission and consideration of affordability should be a significant driving factor in customer risk assessments.”

Affordability is a top priority and the Gambling Commission remains dissatisfied by industry progress. Open source information remains an important element of an affordability framework, because “it is a parameter to consider when setting benchmark triggers that will drive early engagement with customers”. Open source information shows:

median gross weekly earnings* for full-time employees in the UK of £585;
50% of full-time employees in the UK receive less than £30,500 gross earnings* per year;
50% of full-time managers, directors and senior officials (the highest weekly earners) in the UK receive less than £45,000 gross earnings* per year.

*These are gross earnings before expenses such as income tax, national insurance, mortgage/rent payments, travel, food etc. are deducted. The Gambling Commission expects expenses to be considered “so the starting point adequately reflects the true level of available disposable income for that individual.”

Further, the Gambling Commission is concerned that:

affordability frameworks “are not being implemented at pace despite [its] guidance and advice”;
“complex and convoluted matrices and mappings” are being developed based on gross earnings before disposable income is factored in;
“trigger groups are set without any sort of customer interaction to influence their true affordability determination”; and
operators are not interacting early on to set “adequate, informed affordability triggers to protect customers from gambling related harm”, which it goes on to say “could render the operator non-compliant”.

Most notably, the Gambling Commission adds that:

“Customers wishing to spend more than the national average should be asked to provide information to support a higher affordability trigger such as three months’ payslips, P60s, tax returns or bank statements which will both inform the affordability level the customer may believe appropriate with objective evidence whilst enabling the licensee to have better insight into the source of *those funds and whether they are legitimate or not.”

Operators should review lessons in the Enforcement Report and re-assess affordability triggers whilst preparing for any new requirements that may emerge from the Gambling Commission’s consultation on remote customer interaction. We will publish a blog on this consultation next week.

Customer interaction and social responsibility failings

“We have set out clear expectations for operators in relation to safer gambling. We expect operators to actively work and accelerate cooperation with each other to prevent, mitigate and minimise harm, collaborating to accelerate progress and evidence impact. We want a focus on ‘what works’ and we expect operators to empower and protect consumers.”

The scope of social responsibility is broad and includes identification and engagement with those who may be at risk of or experiencing harms.

The responsible teams for social responsibility should be adequately resourced.

Operators are encouraged to consider whether they can evidence the following:

effective safer gambling policies and procedures in place which are tested and periodically reviewed and updated to reflect impact assessments and new research;
policies and procedures that are truly implemented in the business and are being acted upon;
appropriate safer gambling triggers in place that lead to meaningful customer interactions, which are regularly reviewed by management to critically assess their impact on customers and overall effectiveness;
effective challenge and oversight by senior management with clear accountability throughout the organisation; and
teams responsible for conducting social responsibly interactions are adequately resourced so that at-risk customers are not missed or identified too late.

Licensees are strongly encouraged to review the Gambling Commission’s notable enforcement cases, helpful case studies and good practice guidelines.

Anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing

“Work to ensure gambling stays free from crime and the proceeds of criminal finance continues to be a major area of concern for the Commission. Significant and substantial assessment continued for both land-based and online gambling businesses, including money service businesses activities offered by the casino sector.”

The Gambling Commission continues to see operators falling down on the following:

insufficient depth of knowledge demonstrated by PML holders, leading to competency and integrity concerns;
deficient Risk Assessments leading to ineffective policies, procedures and controls;
operators and PML holders failing to learn lessons from the Gambling Commission’s compliance and enforcement activity; and
failure to provide regular, quality training to staff.

Licensees are strongly encouraged to review the Gambling Commission’s notable enforcement cases, helpful case studies and good practice guidelines.

PML Reviews

“The Commission has been signalling for the past few years that we will increasingly focus on the role played by Personal Management Licence holders (PML) when undertaking Compliance and Enforcement investigations.”

Common failings have emerged from:

Failures to assess if decisions being made at Executive level are being implemented within businesses.
Overly complicated lines of decision making and accountability.
Lack of technical knowledge and oversight of areas that PML holders have specific responsibility for, especially in respect of AML.
Prioritising commercial outcomes over regulatory responsibility.

This section ends with a stark reminder, which we always provide to our clients and training subjects, “businesses do not make decisions – people do.” The Gambling Commission adds that “[l]icensees can expect us to continue to take action against accountable individuals to ensure standards are raised to the levels required, whether in relation to the business or individual capability.”

Illegal gambling

“Part of our statutory remit and a key licensing objective is to keep crime out of gambling. We are particularly focused on identifying and disrupting those illegal websites which are targeted at the young and vulnerable gamblers and which often provide little, or no, customer protection. When consumers access illegal gambling sites, they expose themselves to many risks and are not afforded the protections in place in the regulated sector.”

The Gambling Commission’s focus has been on investigating unlicensed gambling facilities and unlicensed advertising, with 59 instances of remote unlicensed operators and 245 illegal lotteries referred by Facebook for closure. Its investigations have shown:

consumers identified as users of the websites have in the main been vulnerable with some having previously self-excluded via GamStop;
consumers often contact the Gambling Commission because they have been unable to withdraw funds;
when consumers have complaints with unlicensed operators these are often not dealt with, and consumers have no right to appeal;
the protection of consumers’ personal information cannot be relied upon; and
such websites may be linked to organised crime.

The Gambling Commission urges licensees to remain vigilant as to the risk of illegal sites using their software without authorisation and to report any such instances immediately

White label partnerships

“The white label operating model continues to be popular within the GB market with there being over 700 white label partners within the industry at present. One of the reasons this model is becoming increasingly popular is that this type of arrangement can bring global exposure to an operator’s products, via the arrangements their white label partners have in place with sports teams for example. However, there is a concern that unlicensed operators who would potentially not pass the Commissions’ initial licensing suitability checks, are looking to use the white label model to provide gambling services in Great Britain.”

White labels have been a key area of focus for the Gambling Commission in the last year. It showed that licensees were failing to appropriately mitigate the risks to the licensing objectives, including:

a failure to properly scrutinise the ownership of white label partners;
ineffective AML controls with individual white label partners or across the customers’ activity; and
poor oversight of activities performed by white label partners, particularly in relation to customer interactions.

Responsibility for compliance always sits with the licensee. In accordance with social responsibility code provision 1.1.20 (responsibilities for third parties) safeguards should always be implemented before committing to contractual obligations to ensure compliance with the LCCP. Failure to do so is likely to bring into question the suitability of the licensee.

Operators are encouraged to:

Conduct risk-based due diligence with a view to mitigating risk to the licensing objectives before entering a relationship with a white label partner;
continually manage and evaluate its white label partner relationships;
ensure service agreements between the licensee and white label partner explicitly articulate where overall responsibly for regulatory functions lie;
ensure white label partnership contracts contain a clause permitting the licensed operator to terminate the business relationship promptly where the partner is suspected of placing the licensing objectives at risk or fails to comply with the requirements contained in the LCCP;
provide training to their partners and conduct ongoing oversight of the activities which should be clearly documented and retained for the life of the business relationship;
ensure that any system the licence holder has in place to manage or detect multiple accounts for individual customers, works across all white label partners so they will have a holistic view of customer activity; and
ensure that source of funds, affordability or markers of harm triggers are based upon this holistic view and not solely on an individual domain basis.

Licensees are strongly encouraged to review the Gambling Commission’s notable enforcement cases, helpful case studies and guidance on white labels.

Betting exchanges

“This year has seen increased regulatory activity related to betting exchanges; an area of growing complexity as operators expand the breadth of markets available and the jurisdictions from which they draw their customers.”

The Gambling Commission reminds betting exchanges that they must apply “critical risk-based thinking” and must not assume that something good enough for one regulator will be acceptable to another. Due diligence should be undertaken for each individual customer. In particular, source of funds and source of wealth must be monitored by adequate checks and controls, particularly where these may be obscure, unconventional and/or especially large – for instance, in relation to account to account transfers or syndicates.

Licensees are strongly encouraged to review the Gambling Commission’s notable enforcement cases.

We strongly encourage all Gambling Commission licensees and applicants to read the Enforcement Report carefully.

17Aug

Consultation Response on Changes to Information Requirements

17th August 2020 David Whyte 65

In our blog of 7 April 2020 we summarised the Gambling Commission’s consultation, launched on 26 February 2020, in two parts, on planned changes to regulatory information and data reporting requirements. On 30 July 2020, the Gambling Commission published its consultation response document (the “Consultation Response”). The Gambling Commission received 70 written responses to its consultation, including 50 from licensees.

We recommend that all licensees read the Consultation Response and new/amended LCCP provisions. We highlight some of the Gambling Commission’s significant changes:

Additional obligations

Licence condition 15.1.3 (reporting of systematic or organised money lending)

This new licence condition requires licensees to provide the Gambling Commission with any information relating to cases where they encounter systematic, organised or substantial money lending between customers.

We discuss this new licence condition in a separate blog.

Licence condition 15.2.2 (other reportable events)

A new requirement that licensees notify the Gambling Commission of any actual or potential breaches by the licensee of the requirements imposed by or under Parts 7 or 8 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, or Part III of the Terrorism Act 2000, or any superseding legislation has been added.

We discuss this new licence condition in a separate blog.

Licence condition 15.2.3 (other reportable events – money laundering, terrorist financing, etc)

This new licence condition requires licensees to notify the Gambling Commission:

as soon as reasonably practicable, of any actual or potential breaches by the licensee of the provisions of the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 (the “Regulations”);
within 14 days of appointment, the identity of the officer responsible for the licensee’s compliance with the Regulations
within 14 days of appointment, the identity of the nominated officer; and
within 14 days of the departure of removal of the above-mentioned positions.

We discuss this new licence condition in a separate blog.

Removed obligations

Licence conditions 13.1.1 and 13.1.2 (pool betting)

The requirement for licensees to notify the Gambling Commission about persons they have authorised to offer pool betting on a track in connection with a horserace or dog race in reliance on an occasional use notice, or to offer football pool betting have been removed.

It is of note that this change does not affect the substance of (existing) licence conditions 13.1.1(2) and 13.1.2(2). Licensees will therefore still be required to produce and retain a record relevant to each pool that they offer and make this information available to the Gambling Commission on request.

Licence condition 15.2.1 (reporting key events)

Various key event notification requirements have been removed. Pertinent removals include:

investments in the licensee other than by way of subscription by shares;
entering into arrangements with third parties for services other than for full value;
changes to the structure or organisation of the business that affect a key position or the responsibility of its holder;
court judgements against the licensee remaining unpaid for 14 days;
issues relating to auditing or the submission of audited accounts;
changes to arrangements concerning the protection of customer funds (this requirement has been moved to licence condition 15.2.2 and is therefore no longer a key event);
customer fund reconciliation deficits;
the receipt from any professional, statutory or other regulatory or government body of the outcome of a compliance assessment;
any change in the identity of the ADR entity or entities for the handling of customer disputes (this requirement has been moved to licence condition 15.2.2 and is therefore no longer a key event); and
the reference of a dispute to an ADR entity, other than one in respect of which contact details were given in accordance with the social responsibility code provision on complaints and disputes.

Licence condition 15.2.2 (other reportable events)

Requirements to notify the Gambling Commission about the conclusion of a dispute referred to an ADR entity and of any outcome adverse to the licensee of proceedings taken against the licensee by a customer in relation to a gambling transaction have been removed.

Other proposed amendments

Licence conditions 15.1.1 and 15.1.2 (reporting suspicion of offences)

These licence conditions have been amended to introduce additional text which will enable the Gambling Commission to specify the form and manner of the reporting of suspicion of offences etc. and to provide clarification on the reporting of suspected breaches of betting rules to the appropriate sport governing body.

The changes also reinforce the principle that responsibility for meeting this licence condition rests with licensees, not third parties. The Gambling Commission notes that while it is acceptable for one licensee to provide information on behalf of another within a group, that ultimate responsibility for the timing and content of the submission rests with the licence holder.

Licence condition 15.2.1 (reporting key events)

Other key event notification requirements have been amended. Amendments of note include:

key events relating to the presentation of a winding up order or petition, entering into administration or receivership, bankruptcy, sequestration, or an individual voluntary arrangement have now been merged into a single key event. This has been expanded to include any person holding a key position for a licensee, group companies and shareholders or members holding 3% or more of the issued share capital of the licensee or its holding company;
the definition of a ‘key person’ in relation to anti-money laundering has been expanded and now covers a position, the holder of which, has overall responsibility for the licensee’s anti-money laundering and/or terrorist financing compliance and/or for the reporting of known or suspected money laundering or terrorist financing activity;
notification requirements about investigations by professional, statutory, regulatory or government bodies into the licensees’ activities have been narrowed to apply to persons in ‘key positions’, rather than to ‘personal licence holders or persons occupying a qualifying position employed by them’;
notification requirements about criminal investigations have been amended and must be reported if it concerns the licensee or a person in a key position and if the Gambling Commission may have cause to question whether the licensee’s measures to keep crime out of gambling had failed;
notification requirements in the event of a breach in the licensee’s information security have been amended. Licensees are now required to notify the Gambling Commission in the event of any security breach to the licensee’s environment that adversely affects the confidentiality of customer data; or prevents the licensee’s customers, staff, or legitimate users from accessing their accounts for longer than 12 hours;
in the case of remote gambling, notification of the commencement or cessation of trading on website domains has been expanded to include domains covered by ‘white label’ arrangements.

Submission of key events

The Gambling Commission has amended the wording in licence conditions 15.2.1 (reporting key events) and 15.2.2 (other reportable events)to include wording that they “are to be reported” via eServices. Key events will therefore no longer be able to be submitted by email unless they have technical issues with eServices (as is often the case!):

If licensees do experience technical issues preventing them reporting key events to us via eServices within 5 days, they should capture evidence of the problems experienced and contact their Licensing Account Manager for assistance.

Ordinary code provision 8.1.1

The Gambling Commission decided not to proceed with its proposals to elevate elements into licence condition 15.2.2 at this stage. The code provision therefore remains in its current form.

Licence condition 15.3.1

The Gambling Commission has harmonised the reporting periods for the submission of regulatory returns, with unified reporting periods across the industry. It has retained the 42-day period for the submission of annual returns for the time being. The regulatory reporting periods are therefore as follows:

Type of return	Reporting period	Submission window
Annual	1 April to 31 March	1 April to 13 May
Quarterly	1 April to 30 June 1 July to 30 September 1 October to 31 December 1 January to 31 March	1 to 28 July 1 to 28 October 1 to 28 January 1 to 28 April

The Gambling Commission received a response about the “stability of the eServices system and a suggestion…to develop an API”, which it is exploring to enable data submission via an API.

Technical scoping work for the harmonisation of reporting periods will start in the Autumn 2020.

Social responsibility code provisions 3.2.1, 3.2.3, 3.2.5 and 3.2.7 (access to gambling by children and young persons)

These code provisions have been amended to allow the Gambling Commission to specify the form or manner of reporting test purchasing results. The Gambling Commission is yet to specify a standardised format for the submission of these results.

Social responsibility code provision 6.1.1 (complaints and disputes)

This code provision has been amended to remove the requirement for routine reporting of the outcomes of complaints and disputes referred to ADR and court proceedings that are adverse to the licensee.

Changes to personal licence conditions

The time within which personal licence holders must report key events to the Gambling Commission has been extended from up to 5 working days to up to 10 working days. Wording has been included that requires all key events to be reported via Personal eServices. Key events will therefore no longer be able to be submitted by email.

The changes come into force on 31 October 2020.

If you would like to discuss any of the issues raised, please do get in touch with us.

17Aug

Consultation Response on Changes to Information Requirements – AML/CTF

17th August 2020 David Whyte 67

Some of the stated proposals of the consultation were “to make data requirements more efficient for licensees, and for [the Commission]”, to “streamline [the Commission’s] existing requirements” and to “reduce regulatory burden”. The stated aim of the consultation being “to ensure the information requirements placed on licence holders are proportionate and effective to inform [the Commission’s] regulation of the industry”. Whilst many of the changes serve to support the Gambling Commission’s aims and proposals, some of the proposed changes relating to anti-money laundering (“AML”) and counter terrorist financing (“CTF”) may serve to confuse licensees’ understanding and increase the regulatory burden.

We recommend that all licensees read the Consultation Response and new/amended provisions in the Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (“LCCP”). We highlight some of the Gambling Commission’s significant changes relating to AML/CTF:

New licence condition 15.1.3 – Reporting of systematic or organised money lending

All non-remote casino, non-remote bingo, general betting, adult gaming centre, family entertainment centre and remote betting intermediary (trading rooms only) licences

Licensees must as soon as reasonably practicable, in such form or manner as the Commission may from time to time specify, provide the Commission with any information relating to cases where they encounter systematic, organised or substantial money lending between customers on their premises, in accordance with the ordinary code provisions on money lending between customers.

Presently, ordinary code provisions 3.8.1 and 3.8.2, which apply only to non-remote casinos, provide that licensees take steps to prevent systematic or organised money lending between customers on their premises, and provide that the Gambling Commission should be notified where licensees encounter the same. This new licence condition is self-explanatory: it elevates the reporting requirement to a licence condition.

New licence condition 15.2.2(1)(d) – Other reportable events

All operating licences:

1. Licensees must also notify the Commission in such form or manner as the Commission may from time to time specify, as soon as reasonably practicable of the occurrence of any of the following events:

…

d. any actual or potential breaches by the licensee of the requirements imposed by or under Parts 7 or 8 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, or Part III of the Terrorism Act 2000, or any UK law by which those statutes are amended or superseded.

The Gambling Commission re-emphasises in the Consultation Response that the primary purpose of the introduction of this reportable event is to encourage self-reporting by licensees of breaches of the relevant provisions of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (“POCA”) or Part III of the Terrorism Act 2000 (the “Terrorism Act”).

A number of concerns were raised about the Gambling Commission’s proposal, with respondents considering it to be too broad. This was likely founded on a concern that licensees would be obliged to notify the Gambling Commission each time they submit a suspicious activity report (“SAR”) to the National Crime Agency (“NCA”), because such submission may constitute “a potential breach”. However, the Gambling Commission has made it clear in its Consultation Response that it does not consider the introduction of this licence condition to be too broad, as it covers actual or potential breaches by the licensee and does not extend to breaches by customers of the licensee. It stated:

The only relevant provisions therefore are the reporting requirements in relation to known or suspected money laundering or terrorist financing activity, breaches of the tipping off or prejudicing an investigation requirements, or committing one or more of the principle money laundering or terrorist financing offences...We agree that it is for the courts to decide whether a breach has occurred, and we do not intend to adjudicate in place of this. We do expect a licensee to be capable of identifying whether a breach has or potentially has occurred, and this should be reported to us as it may have an impact on the continued suitability of an operator to hold a licence. The reportable event is a simple process of notifying the Commission of either proven or potential breaches. We encourage self-reporting by licensees which allows us to better manage potential money laundering and terrorist financing risks, and thus keep crime out of gambling.

We therefore suggest that licensees who are concerned about the impact of this new licence condition consider the following when determining whether or not they (and not their customers) have actually or potentially committed any offence under the relevant parts of POCA or the Terrorism Act:

Did knowledge or suspicion exist when the licensee entered into or became concerned in an arrangement? The continuance or termination of a business relationship may be a relevant consideration here.

Under certain provisions of the legislation, the submission of a SAR or the receipt of consent from the NCA serves to ensure that there is no offence committed by the licensee.

Any failure to submit a SAR where knowledge or suspicion of money laundering or terrorist financing exists, or there are reasonable grounds for knowing or suspecting the same, may be caught as a potential breach (failure to disclose) and therefore may be notifiable. To mitigate the risk of licensees committing (or potentially committing) disclosure offences, care should be taken to ensure that policies, procedures and training are clear and up to date in relation to licensees’ SAR procedures.

Have any tipping off, or prejudicing an investigation, offences been committed? The Gambling Commission also made it clear in its Consultation Response that it does not consider that licensees will be at risk of committing the offences of tipping off or prejudicing an investigation when notifying the Gambling Commission under licence condition 15.2.2(1)(d). This seems logical; the notification is not required unless these offences have been committed by the licensee, if they have been, the licensee’s disclosure to the Gambling Commission would likely amount to a confession rather than tipping off or prejudicing an investigation.

New licence condition 15.2.3 – Other reportable events – money laundering, terrorist financing, etc

All non-remote and remote casino operating licences

1. Licensees must notify the Commission in such form or manner as the Commission may from time to time specify, as soon as reasonably practicable of any actual or potential breaches by the licensee of the provisions of the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on [the] Payer) Regulations 2017 [(the “Regulations”)], or any UK Statutory Instrument by which those regulations are amended or superseded.

2. Licensees must, within 14 days of the appointment, notify the Commission of the identity of the individual appointed as:

a. the officer responsible for the licensee’s compliance with the [Regulations] (regulation 21(1)(a)),

b. the nominated officer (regulation 21(3))

c. and any subsequent appointment to either of those positions.

3. Licensees must, within 14 days of the departure or removal of any individual appointed to the positions mentioned in 2 above, notify the Commission of such departure or removal.

A number of concerns were raised about the Gambling Commission’s proposal, with respondents requesting further guidance on the types of breaches that should be reported under licence condition 15.2.3(1) if the Gambling Commission wanted reporting to be consistent, non-subjective and not overly burdensome. Concerns were also raised that the requirement to report potential breaches was significantly beyond that prescribed in the Regulations.

The Regulations are comprehensive and amongst other things contain customer and enhanced due diligence, record keeping, training and risk assessment requirements. This reporting requirement, in particular the requirement to report potential breaches, is therefore likely to cause confusion and will significantly increase the burden of compliance on licensees.

Key points to note:

Despite some of the requirements of the Regulations being explicit (for example CDD being required before establishing a business relationship or in relation to a transaction that amounts to 2,000 euros or more), others require a risk-based approach. A breach in this sense may constitute a failure to take a risk-based approach and not a certain decision that in hindsight is deemed regretful.

In some cases, it will be very difficult for licensees to determine, on a risk-based approach, whether or not they have potentially breached the Regulations. Licensees may therefore choose to take a subjective view when considering whether or not a potential breach as occurred. Other relevant factors may include:

whether a licensee’s policies and procedures have been adhered to;

given that a breach of a policy implemented on a risk-based approach may be indicative of a potential breach of the Regulations, licensees may wish to review their policies and procedures to ensure that they are not overly committal in certain areas. For example, the Regulations require the regular provision of training in how to recognise and deal with transactions and other activities which may be related to money laundering or terrorist financing. If licensees have deemed in their policy that this training will be provided annually, has there been a potential breach if this training is late and delivered after 13 months? A simpler approach to avoid this may be to specify in policy that training will be delivered regularly and at approximately 12-month intervals, this allowing for flexibility without the pressure of considering Gambling Commission notification.

Are there processes in place to ensure that the notification requirements will be adhered to? What is the procedure? Who is responsible for making the decision on notification?

Have licensees conducted a gap analysis against the Regulations to ensure that all of the requirements are covered by existing policies and procedures?

In circumstances where a decision is made not to notify the Gambling Commission, licensees may consider it sensible to document their decision making process such that this justification can be provided to the Gambling Commission in the event of challenge at a later stage.

The Gambling Commission has made it clear in the Consultation Response that it does not expect licensees to notify it about customer accounts suspended due to a lack of satisfactory source of funds documentation. It is actual or potential breaches of the Regulations – by the licensee – that the Gambling Commission expects to be notified about.

In addition, under licence conditions 15.2.3(2) and (3), licensees are required to notify the Gambling Commission within 14 days of the appointment, and/or departure, and/or removal of both:

the officer responsible for their compliance with the Regulations; and
their nominated officer.

The Gambling Commission makes it clear in the Consultation Response that the notification should include the full details of the individuals, the date of their appointment and details of their position within the business, senior management or role on the board. The Gambling Commission also points out that it intends to consult on the status of the nominated officer role later in 2020.

We strongly recommend that licensees review their AML/CTF policies, procedures, controls and training programmes now to ensure that adequate provision has been made for adherence to these changes before they come into force.

The changes come into force on 31 October 2020.

If you would like to discuss any of the issues raised, please do get in touch with us.

09Jul

Gambling Commission Creates Interim Experts by Experience Group

9th July 2020 Bahar Alaeddini 79

On 19 June 2020, the Gambling Commission announced the creation of an interim Experts by Experience Group. The interim group “will provide advice, evidence and recommendations to the Commission to help inform decision making and raise standards, along with co-creating a permanent Experts by Experience Advisory Group to advise the regulator on a more established basis.”

An unidentified spokesperson for the interim group said:

“[It] comprises a group of people who have suffered a wide range of gambling harms, including recovering gambling addicts, family and partners of addicts, and those who have lost children to gambling suicides…the establishment of the group is long overdue. We are determined…to play a continuing and much more active role in the deliberations and decision making across the whole remit of the Commission as part of the National Strategy to reduce gambling harms. We bring a new and vital perspective on key issues of regulation and even how the Commission itself works.”

The interim group will be in place for at least six months, at which point the Gambling Commission plans to move to a permanent Experts by Experience Advisory Group, similar to the Advisory Board for Safer Gambling and the Digital Advisory Panel.

No terms of reference are published for the interim Experts by Experience Group and its members are not known. Names may be sensitive or confidential; however, at a minimum, the number of members, members’ backgrounds, the reason for their appointment and a register of interests should be published. Otherwise, the interim group runs the risk of being labelled a quasi-lobby group, financed and supported by the Gambling Commission.

Although it is only an interim group, plainly, it has a strong level of influence over the Gambling Commission’s work. It should, therefore, be treated no differently from the Advisory Board for Safer Gambling and the Digital Advisory Panel.

The objective bystander might wonder why the interim group’s members only comprise those who have experienced gambling harms when there are 400,000 people classified as problem gamblers and 32 million gamblers in Great Britain.

Unfortunately, the Gambling Commission’s lack of transparency detracts from the real and genuine value of the Experts by Experience Group and devalues contributions made by its members. To build a sustainable gambling industry, we could all learn and develop significantly from the work of the interim group and the experiences of its members. This requires us to work in partnership and adopt a balanced approach.

It seems the Gambling Commission has failed, again, to be transparent, balanced and independent.

14May

New Gambling Commission Guidance for Online Operators

14th May 2020 Jessica Wilson 97

On 12 May 2020, the Gambling Commission issued new “additional formal guidance” for online operators in response to “evidence that shows some gamblers may be at greater risk of harm during lockdown”.

Online operators must now take this new guidance into account and they are “expected to make changes to act on this guidance as soon as possible”.

The new guidance is issued under social responsibility code provision 3.4.1 of the LCCP which requires licensees to interact with customers in a way which minimises the risk of customers experiencing harms associated with gambling. This includes identifying customers, interacting with customers, understanding the impact of the interaction, and taking into account the Gambling Commission’s guidance on customer interaction, which now includes the new guidance of 12 May 2020.

The new measures, to be “implemented into customer interaction frameworks” by licensees, are as follows:

Reviews of all thresholds and triggers used to track vulnerability to ensure that they reflect changed financial circumstances that many consumers will be experiencing. An emphasis should be placed on those thresholds and triggers being proactively reset on a precautionary basis to ensure customers with emerging vulnerability, such as increased time spent at play or increased spend can be identified
Specifically, reviewing time indicators to capture play in excess of one hour as the Gambling Commission believes this is a proxy for potential harm.
Set additional or modify existing thresholds and triggers which are specific to new customers reflecting the operator’s lack of knowledge of that individual’s play and spend patterns.
Implement processes that ensure the continual monitoring of the operator’s customer base, identifying customers whose patterns of play, spend or behaviours have changed in the last few weeks.
Conduct affordability assessments for customers identified by existing or new thresholds and triggers which indicate customers experiencing harm. Consider limiting or blocking further play until the checks have been concluded and supporting evidence obtained.
Prevent reverse withdrawal options for customers until further notice.
Stop bonus offers or promotions to customers displaying indicators of harm.

Guidance or requirement

Whilst guidance may be appropriate to ensure vulnerable customers are protected, particularly during the current Covid-19 pandemic, it is questionable whether the measures can be considered to be “guidance” and whether they are wholly proportionate and necessary in the light of the data on which the Gambling Commission has based these measures. The wording of the measures appears to create an obligation on the part of licensees to “stop bonus offers” and “prevent reverse withdrawals” which give the impression of requirements, rather than guidance.

Data

The Gambling Commission published two sets of data. A first set collected through a YouGov survey and a second from “the biggest operators, covering approximately 80% of the online gambling market”.

YouGov data

The YouGov data was collected from just over 2,000 people, some of whom may have taken the survey multiple times. The data is based on gambling habits of customers within four weeks from “mid-March 2020”. Whilst the data does show increased spend on online gambling, for example a 2% increase on online slot games and 1.7% on sports betting, the biggest increase of 16.4% was on National Lottery products which are regulated separately and to whom the new guidance does not apply. The data analysis also fails to consider the potential adjustment of gambling habits due to the closure of land-based venues as an explanation for the increase of spend and time on certain products, as opposed to an increase in gambling habits.

Gambling Commission data

The second set of data was collected over the period 31 March 2019 to 31 March 2020. This period only covers one week in which the country was in lockdown. It follows that this data cannot be reliable evidence that customers are at a greater risk of harm during lockdown. Further, the data shows a decrease in reverse withdrawals. The new guidance at point 6 above includes the prevention of withdrawal options until further notice. It is clear that this measure was not based on the data published by the Gambling Commission, which questions whether it was necessary and proportionate to be included within this particular guidance. The Gambling Commission, supported by research, already considered reverse withdrawals to be a flag for potential gambling harms; however, action to tackle this through an industry consultation would have been more appropriate than a strict measure introduced under the guise of guidance.

Absence of consultation

The absence of an industry consultation on the guidance is particularly disappointing. When a code of practice is amended, the industry would usually be offered the opportunity to respond to a consultation on the proposed new amendments. This was the case when the Gambling Commission last issued guidance under social responsibility code 3.4.1 in July 2019. However, it seems that the Gambling Commission has decided to omit this stage due to lockdown being a present and continuing issue. The press statement notes that the Gambling Commission will bring forward plans to consult on whether further targeted protection measures are required on a permanent basis.

The Gambling Commission’s Statement of principles for licensing and regulation begins by stating that the Gambling Commission regulates in a “straight-forward, risk-based and transparent manner”. The lack of industry consultation here is plainly neither transparent, nor based on sufficient evidence of risk.

The new requirements are significant and will no doubt be burdensome for licensees to implement “as soon as possible”. However, they are likely to be welcomed by Culture Minister Nigel Huddleston (see our blog of 24 April 2020) and the Public Accounts Committee following Neil McArthur’s appearance at the session Gambling regulation: problem gambling and protecting vulnerable people on 27 April 2020.

To comply with the new measures significant updates are likely to be required to systems, customer terms and conditions and policies, each requiring input from different people, perhaps even third-parties, which will no doubt be a challenge given the current crisis. If, as the press release suggests, operators are expected to “interact with customers who have been playing for an hour in a single session of play” the impact will be significant, particularly for large operators who may have several thousand active customers at any one time. The threat of interim licence suspension, or licence review, increases this burden, which was thrown upon licensees without consultation, warning or a timeframe to implement the required changes.

As Julian Harris wrote in our previous blog, “for regulation to be effective it requires a healthy and collaborative working relationship between regulator and whom it regulates”. This statement is echoed here and whilst both the Gambling Commission and the industry as a whole are in agreement that new measures should be introduced to protect the most vulnerable during this novel and rare situation, any changes should be proportionate, necessary and founded upon strong and clear evidence.

A further blog post on the implementation of the new guidance will follow.

07May

Remain Vigilant to Ensure AML Compliance

7th May 2020 David Whyte 88

The Gambling Commission published the fifth edition of The prevention of money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism – Guidance for remote and non-remote casinos (the “Guidance”) in January 2020. The Guidance incorporates the amendments made by the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Amendment) Regulations 2019 to the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017.

In its 2018/2019 Enforcement Report, the Gambling Commission said:

“Compliance activity and enforcement cases revealed again and again that operators’ AML policies, procedures and controls are not fit for purpose. There has been the incorrect perception that all gambling regulators’ expectations are identical in addition to a failure to digest our guidance and implement the legislative requirements applicable to Great Britain. This must change, for these are not just regulatory matters but breaches of UK law. Those failing to learn these lessons will face further draconian action.”

Despite repeated messages and enforcement cases of a similar nature, due to ongoing failings by the industry, the Gambling Commission has “continued to imposed increasingly tough financial penalties (or payments in lieu of financial penalties) in cases where there have been major AML failings in order to send a clear message to the industry.”

Operators must take heed because the Gambling Commission will continue to hold you to account for failing to adhere to the Guidance.

As we noted in our blog on 31 March 2020, the current COVID-19 crisis presents some operators with an opportunity to ease regulatory and commercial burdens.

Operators should ensure that they have implemented all changes required following the update to the Guidance and take note of the Gambling Commission’s statement that:

“…the publication of this updated guidance must result in casino businesses reviewing, and accordingly amending, their money laundering and terrorist financing risk assessments as well as the associated policies, procedures and controls…”

Customer due diligence

Paragraphs 6.16 and 6.17 of the Guidance specify that, for the purposes of CDD (as required by Regulation 28), verify means verifying on the basis of documents or information which, in either case, have been obtained from a reliable source which is independent of the person whose identity is being verified. In addition to documents issued or made available by an official body made available by a customer themselves, information may be regarded as meeting this requirement if:

it is obtained by means of an electronic identification process (by using electronic identification means or by using a trust service); and
that process is secure from fraud and misuse and capable of providing an appropriate level of assurance that the person claiming a particular identity is, in fact, the person with that identity.

Enhanced customer due diligence and enhanced ongoing monitoring

There are now further requirements for EDD measures and/or an assessment of whether there is a high risk of money laundering or terrorist financing (which, if identified, would require EDD measures) where:

in relation to any transaction where there is a requirement apply CDD measures, either of the parties to the transaction are established in a high-risk third country;
a transaction is complex or unusually large, there are unusual patterns of transactions, or the transactions have no apparent economic or legal purpose;
the customer is the beneficiary of a life insurance policy; or
the customer is a third country national who is applying for residence rights in or citizenship of an EEA state in exchange for transfers of capital, purchase of a property, government bonds or investment in corporate entities in that EEA state.

Other changes

Other changes to the Guidance include changes to the risk-based approach, risk assessments, risk-based CDD and new flow diagrams showing the Architecture for the risk-based process (figure 2) and The risk framework and risk-based customer due diligence (figure 3). These highlight the requirement that licensed casino operators:

take appropriate measures in preparation for, and during, the adoption of new products or business practices, and assess and mitigate any money laundering risks arising from such adoption, in addition to the existing and similar requirement for new technology, including cryptocurrencies (Regulation 19(4));
have specific policies, procedures and controls for the measures described above (Regulation 19(1) and (2)); and
take appropriate measures to ensure that any agents used by operators, for the purposes of their business, are given appropriate training in AML and CTF (Regulation 24).

Factors to consider

The new requirements can be addressed by:

reviewing money laundering and terrorist financing risk assessments now, and each time a new product or business practice is introduced;
reviewing AML/CTF policies, procedures and controls to ensure that the Guidance has been considered;
ensuring that all employees are appropriately trained and understand the changes; and
amending contractual clauses and training procedures to ensure that agents are appropriately trained.

If you would like to discuss any of the issues raised, please do get in touch with us.

02Apr

Update on Gambling Commission Industry Working Groups

2nd April 2020 Bahar Alaeddini 87

On 2 October 2019, Neil McArthur, CEO of the Gambling Commission, delivered a speech at a CEO Breakfast Briefing in London in which he looked back at the year, talked about the challenges in the industry and three opportunities to reduce gambling harm:

opportunity 1: game and product design;
opportunity 2: inducements to gambling; and
opportunity 3: advertising technology.

We discussed these opportunities and industry working groups, formed in January 2020 in pursuit of these opportunities, in a blog post on 17 January 2020.

Yesterday, the Gambling Commission published an update on its “collaborative work” with the industry working groups, which included over 30 licensees, co-ordinated by the Betting and Gaming Council, and involved GamCare and people with lived experience of gambling harm.

Whilst “encouraged by the progress”, Neil McArthur challenged the industry to go further and deliver “real and rapid change for consumers”. He said:

“We set these challenges in order to deliver real and rapid change for consumers in key areas of risk. However, it is important these commitments are implemented as soon as possible. It should not take months to implement safeguards many would expect to be in place already…Whilst we are encouraged by industry proposals for making gambling products safer, we now call on operators to implement those proposals rapidly; but the proposals do not go far enough and we will now consider what additional measures we should impose on operators…Ultimately actions speak louder than words and any operator that does not put consumer safety first will find itself a target for enforcement action.”

Safer Products Working Group (opportunity 1: game and product design)

The industry has agreed to:

A minimum spin speed of 2.5 seconds on all slots.
Removal of game features which may encourage intensive play such as slam stops and turbo buttons.
Removal of split-screen slots which have been associated with potential loss of control.
A more detailed work plan which will include in-game messaging and the creation of a Betting and Gaming Council Testing Lab to investigate other game features.
Publication of the final industry code in September 2020.

The Gambling Commission’s response:

“…this work must now go further and faster, in particular around using demographics and behaviours to indicate risk.”
It will issue a consultation on “priority areas” for immediate action “as soon as possible”.

Incentivisation of High Value Customers Working Group (opportunity 2: inducements to gambling)

The industry has agreed to:

Restrict and prevent under 25s from being recruited to high value customer i.e. VIP schemes.
All customers must first pass thorough checks relating to spend, safer gambling and enhanced due diligence before becoming eligible for high value customer incentives.
Reward programmes will also be required to have full audit trails detailing decision making with specified senior oversight and accountability.
Implement some measures from 14 April 2020.

The Gambling Commission’s response:

It will issue a consultation on how to makes these permanent changes as part of the LCCP.
Expectation that the industry implements its industry code “as soon as possible and considers most measures should be implemented within 3 months.”
It will monitor and support implementation of the industry’s code as an interim measure.

Safer Advertising Online Working Group (opportunity 3: advertising technology)

The industry has agreed to:

Amend the Industry Code for Socially Responsible Advertising by July 2020 to include the points below.
A common list of negative search terms (e.g. how do I self-exclude from gambling?) and suppression websites, which will help shield vulnerable groups from online gambling ads.
Better and more consistent use of customer data to ensure paid-for-ads are targeting away from vulnerable groups across social media platforms, instead of targeting for business.
Implement an approach which means that advertising is only targeted at +25 age in social media and “Pay Per Click” advertising where platform facilities permit. This will protect young people and increase confidence in the social media platforms’ own age-gating.
Age-gating YouTube channels and content.
Adopting and rolling out to all affiliates a code of conduct which will be amended and updated on a regular basis to ensure all measures undertaken by the industry will be implemented equally by affiliates.

This working group will also:

Establish a permanent cross-industry Adtech Forum.
Continue the proactive engagement with a wide range of stakeholders (including platforms).
Work with the Gambling Commission to publish and promote consumer advice, and work with online platforms and broadcasters to identify a more effective, simple and consistent approach, about blocking gambling advertising.
Commit to monitoring and evaluating all actions to ensure only effective solutions are pursued.

The Gambling Commission’s response:

“The industry has developed an appropriate set of commitments which should help further limit exposure to online gambling adverts by vulnerable groups.”
It expects industry to work collaboratively with social media platforms to identify and implement further solutions.
Operators will be “held account for these commitments” from July 2020.

Final thoughts

At the October 2019 CEO Breakfast Briefing, Neil McArthur’s final words were:

“If we work together, I am sure we can make gambling fairer and safer.”

The industry’s response to working with the Gambling Commission and investment in meeting tough timeframes should be applauded. Much work is still to be done, particularly to deliver “real and rapid change for consumers”, as the Gambling commission expects. Widespread action and engagement across the industry when the industry codes are implemented and consultations published will be paramount.

31Mar

Productivity in This Time of Crisis

31st March 2020 David Whyte 93

The widespread closure of land-based gambling businesses, coupled with the impact of a hiatus in sport may, however undesirably, present some operators and suppliers with the opportunity to take advantage of additional spare time and ease regulatory and commercial burdens prior to the much-coveted return to normality.

Annual fees

In its recent update, the Gambling Commission (the “Commission”) has confirmed that due to the structure of its fee system, which is based on secondary legislation, it is unable to offer a reduction in annual fees or accept payment by instalments.

The only two options presented by the Commission are:

licence surrender; and
reducing the annual fee payable by applying to vary an operating licence to decrease the fee category where there is a reduction in gross gambling yield (“GGY”).

While option 2 may sound attractive, only some licensees will benefit. We recommend considering the following points when making a variation application to decrease a fee category:

it is the cheapest type of application and only costs £25.00;
it can be submitted quickly and easily though the Commission’s eServices portal;
apply as early as possible – the guideline processing time (up to eight weeks) is likely to be lengthened as the Commission experiences increased levels of absence;
the annual fee reduction will not take effect until the next annual fee is due; and
licensees who have recently paid their annual fee will not benefit from any such variation this year because the Commission does not issue refunds, as it has no statutory mechanism to do so.

Licensees whose annual fees are due in the coming weeks/months and expect to see a significant reduction in GGY should move quickly and submit variation applications as soon as possible.

Please remember that, in accordance with section 100 of the Gambling Act 2005, annual fees are payable before the licence anniversary and the Commission has the power to revoke an operating licence for non-payment.

Compliance

Neil McArthur, CEO of the Commission, has reminded licensees, particularly online operators, of the safer gambling and AML risks presented by COVID-19 and that consumer protection is paramount. In a message to online operators, on 26 March 2020, he said:

“…whilst I recognise the enormous challenges businesses are facing, I want to make the Commission’s expectations absolutely clear… If we see irresponsible behaviour we will step in immediately. So, whilst I know that the current climate is unprecedented, gambling operators must play their part in making sure that people are kept safe…”

As a follow-up to his blog on 25 March 2020, The Gambling Commission’s Response to the Coronavirus Crisis, Julian Harris will be posting his views on Neil McArthur’s latest message shortly. In the meantime, we strongly encourage licensees to view the Commission’s warning as an opportunity to take stock and respond positively and proactively as this is likely to result in improved business practices. Inevitably, this will reduce workloads when gambling businesses are finally able to operate as normal:

We recommend licensees consider the following:

AML business risk assessment

In accordance with licence condition 12.1.1 of the LCCP, all licensees (other than gaming machine technical and gambling software licences) are required to conduct an assessment of the risks of their business being used for money laundering and terrorist financing. This risk assessment must be reviewed at least annually and amongst other things in the light of any changes in circumstances or other material changes.

Licensees may wish to begin their review of this AML risk assessment now, considering internal business changes and the risks presented by COVID-19 (almost certainly a change in circumstances or other material change). Risk assessments that are part completed in draft now will require less time when premises reopen or sport recommences, meaning key employees can focus on other matters.

AML and safer gambling policies

Licensees should review their AML and safer gambling (“SG”) policies. This review should not just consider the adequacy of the policies now, but also the risks presented by COVID-19. Particular attention should be paid to the levels which trigger AML and SG customer interactions, and the approach taken to consider the customer’s affordability given the likelihood of disrupted income. Consideration should also be given as to how audits are completed, and whether any changes are required. Again, the completion of amendments in draft now will mean less effort and time is spent on this review when normality returns.

Marketing

Operators should review their marketing policies, ensuring new customers are on-boarded in a socially responsible way, cleanse customer marketing databases and review relationships with affiliates. They may wish to audit their affiliates and renegotiate terms to strengthen control and their position to deal with non-compliant affiliates.

Training

Employees who have been furloughed and/or who have not been operating in their primary role for prolonged periods of time, may need refresher training on key areas on their return to work. Licensees should take steps now to ensure that they have plans in place for this, to ensure that the high standards being adhered to prior to COVID-19 are maintained. We will discuss training in a separate blog post shortly.

The strong messages from the Commission to the remote industry during the COVID-19 crisis maintain a pre-existing tone that is likely to continue. Land-based and sports betting operators and suppliers should use this opportunity to their advantage so that they have a renewed sense of focus when the time eventually comes to return to normality.

If you would like to discuss any of these issues, please do get in touch with us.

Anti-Money Laundering

Additional obligations

Licence condition 15.1.3 (reporting of systematic or organised money lending)

Licence condition 15.2.2 (other reportable events)

Licence condition 15.2.3 (other reportable events – money laundering, terrorist financing, etc)

Removed obligations

Licence conditions 13.1.1 and 13.1.2 (pool betting)

Licence condition 15.2.1 (reporting key events)

Licence condition 15.2.2 (other reportable events)

Other proposed amendments

Licence conditions 15.1.1 and 15.1.2 (reporting suspicion of offences)

Licence condition 15.2.1 (reporting key events)

Submission of key events

Ordinary code provision 8.1.1

Licence condition 15.3.1

Social responsibility code provisions 3.2.1, 3.2.3, 3.2.5 and 3.2.7 (access to gambling by children and young persons)

Social responsibility code provision 6.1.1 (complaints and disputes)

Changes to personal licence conditions

New licence condition 15.1.3 – Reporting of systematic or organised money lending

New licence condition 15.2.2(1)(d) – Other reportable events

New licence condition 15.2.3 – Other reportable events – money laundering, terrorist financing, etc