Concerns about bonus promotions under new UK Gambling Act

[Vallerius]

I've heard concerns among some people that British-licensed operators will no longer be able to promote bonus offers after the UK's new gambling regulations come into effect next year.

This is not entirely true however.

John Travers, a communications manager with the UK Gambling Commission told me: "As long as bonus schemes involving incentives are operated in a socially responsible way and follow the requirements of the social responsibility code of practice provision, they will be allowed."

The Social responsibility code provision he speaks of is as follows:

If a licensee makes available to any customer or potential customer any incentive or reward scheme or other arrangement under which the customer may receive money, goods, services or any other advantage (including the discharge in whole or in part of any liability of his) (‘the benefit’) the scheme must be designed to operate, and be operated, in such a way that:

a) neither the receipt nor the value or amount of the benefit is:
(i) dependent on or calculated by reference to the length of time for or
frequency with which the customer gambles or has at any time gambled; or ii) dependent on the customer gambling for a pre-determined length of time or with a pre-determined frequency;

b) if the value of the benefit increases with the amount the customer spends it does so at a rate no greater than that at which the amount spent increases; and further that:

c) if the benefit comprises free or subsidised travel or accommodation which facilitates the customer’s attendance at particular premises the terms on which it is offered are not directly related to the level of the customer’s prospective gambling.

(I don't think I've ever seen a bonus scheme that would violate this code.)

Travers also adds that: "One of the Gambling Commission's objectives is to protect vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling. Bonus offers must not encourage bahaviors typical of problem gamblers."

[Doolally]

Nice post Bradley. This is very interesting.

I'm interested in the general conditions that will be applied by the UK's Gambling Commission when it truely comes into force and it's nice to see that the GPWA have an interest in this as well.

I look forward to any other snippets of information you come across and care to share!