GamProtect Details Revealed By UKGC Head In Speech
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has provided an update on the progress of its new GamProtect industry tool.
Key Facts:
- Aim is to provide a single customer view of UK gambling accounts
- To do this, it will enable UK gambling operators to securely and compliantly share information
- UKGC will mandate adoption if it proves to not be voluntarily implemented by the betting sector
- CEO Andrew Rhodes was speaking at the Betting and Gaming Council’s 2025 AGM
GamProtect is designed to give operators of online casinos and betting sites in the UK a way to share information securely and in a fully compliant way.
Chief executive of UKGC, Andrew Rhodes, gave more details about how it will work in his speech at the recent AGM of the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC).
Rhodes confirmed UKGC will mandate the adoption of the GamProtect tool if operators do not voluntarily come on board with the project.
Industry’s Best Practice
In his speech at the BGC AGM, Rhodes explained why GamProtect will be so vital.
He said: “This is a really important industry-led tool. The White Paper was very clear about its intention to mandate adoption if it was not voluntarily implemented. We will be closely monitoring those who have not chosen to adopt this because it is an important tool in helping those most at risk. It is in the industry’s best interest to adopt this as soon as possible.”
Rhodes spoke about affordability checks and financial risk assessments and how changes to how they work are being rolled out in the industry.
The UKGC head noted there are some misleading messages from companies in the sector, with some customers being told that Commission-mandated affordability checks are due to technical issues or security concerns, which he said was “not helpful”.
Rhodes added: “This needs to stop because it undermines the system of regulation, which is why we see stories in the media about people saying, ‘I’m a £10 punter, why have I had an affordability check?”
“I cannot understand why they have either, and what we are finding is that some of this is down to how things are being explained to consumers. We must tighten this up, as it will continue to be unhelpful.”
Large Marquee Events
The UK’s gambling industry is in a state of flux, having seen the introduction of a new statutory levy and slot stake limits that are also being rolled out.
With total gross gambling yield (GGY) in the UK having been shown to be at its highest ever level, having hit more than £15 billion, Rhodes noted participation in gambling has remained stable at 48%.
He said: “What they show is that online betting, in particular, follows the pattern of large marquee events. For example, racing saw an uptick in participation recently, and GGY has tracked along with results.”
“The statistics indicate a return to the previous norm rather than a decline, which we need to keep an eye on.”
However, 2025 lacks a major summer sporting event, with no World Cup or European Championship in football, and the Olympics took place in Paris last year.
