- The Minister has written to the Chief Executives of five leading online gambling operators asking them to take extra steps to protect players at this time of heightened risk.
- He will also host a virtual roundtable with major problem gambling treatment and support organisations on the impacts of coronavirus.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has requested regular intelligence from the industry on patterns of gambling during the coronavirus outbreak, including how operators are managing the risk of problem gambling and what more companies can do to promote safer gambling messaging during the current crisis.
Culture Minister Nigel Huddleston has written to the Chief Executives of five leading online gambling operators - Bet 365, GVC, Skybet, William Hill and Flutter - and the trade body the Betting and Gaming Council - to:
- Request regular and comprehensive internal data around online gambling habits as a result of the ongoing lockdown measures;
- Remind them of their responsibilities and encourage extra steps to protect players at this time of heightened risk;
- Call for a greater prominence of safer gambling messaging within their advertising aimed at existing and potential customers across television, radio, online and print media. This should more clearly warn of risks and signpost people to sources of support, such as GambleAware.
The latter action follows the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) announcing an increase in gambling-related complaints since the start of the coronavirus epidemic. DCMS has requested
/Public Release. This material from the originating organization/author(s) might be of the point-in-time nature, and edited for clarity, style and length. Mirage.News does not take institutional positions or sides, and all views, positions, and conclusions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s).View in full here.
