Tackling unlicensed gaming is key to the UK gaming Commission’s goal of preventing gambling from becoming a source of crime and disrupting this illicit activity on a large scale.
The Commission has got aware of licensed operators’ casino games appearing on unauthorized websites that are illegally available to British customers.
These marketplaces are unregulated and do not require the same precautions as operators. They frequently target vulnerable clients, such as individuals who have self-excluded via the GAMSTOP plan.
The websites may lack proper social responsibility and anti-money laundering (AML) measures, exposing clients to fraud, data privacy concerns, and unfair tactics. It is thus critical that the Commission, in partnership with the gaming sector and key partners, take all necessary efforts to reduce risk to UK consumers.
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Operators who provide Business-to-Business (B2B) gaming solutions, such as live games, live casinos, and slots, can assist the Commission in combating the unlawful market by assessing their own operations. The Commission discovered that, in certain cases, third-party resellers distribute games supplied by operators to the unauthorized market, frequently in violation of their contractual responsibilities. Commission licensees may have been irresponsible in permitting them to do so, putting their own licences at danger.
The Commission recommended operators to closely check their business relationships to ensure that no partners are delivering unlawful gaming facilities to the GB market, and to terminate partnerships if non-compliance is discovered.
It is vital that licensees actively interact with the Commission in cases when such behavior is found, including the preventative actions taken to ensure that such activity stops promptly. A minimal obligation is to actively alert the Commission and present a clear strategy to remediate the situation as soon as possible.
The Commission is taking a proactive approach to this subject, and it may decide at any time to undertake test purchase activity to demonstrate possible violations.
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