Life Cycle of Online Casino Regulations in the UK? Exodus from the Market

[rmeeuwsen]

Has excessive and misdirected UK regulation reached the next step in the life cycle for online casinos.

1. Unregulated “Wild West”: No guarantees of safety and no recourse for scammed players
2. Responsible Regulations: To “protect" the consumer and earn tax revenue. Scammers and untaxed casinos are driven offshore. Responsible casinos flourish and tax revenues flow in.
3. Over Regulation: Responsible casinos give up licenses and go to less regulated markets.

[BestNewBingoSites]

100% this! Big lack of new launches in the UK, no-one wants to take the risk with even more regulation on the way.

[potentialeight]

This is the cycle that a lot of industries go through, and I think a lot of people saw it coming with the UKGC from a mile (or kilometer) away. Those that lead the way in regulation on the front end are usually those that go too far on the back end and start losing ground as a result.

It's like the whole thing about only having a hammer: Everything looks like a nail.

[Sherlock]

Has excessive and misdirected UK regulation reached the next step in the life cycle for online casinos.

1. Unregulated “Wild West”: No guarantees of safety and no recourse for scammed players
2. Responsible Regulations: To “protect" the consumer and earn tax revenue. Scammers and untaxed casinos are driven offshore. Responsible casinos flourish and tax revenues flow in.
3. Over Regulation: Responsible casinos give up licenses and go to less regulated markets.

This is misleading. Protection of players has nothing to do with regulations. I would even say that non-regulated markets have overall better (self)protection of players than regulated markets.

In the good old unregulated days, the forums worked, the ratings were not just a marketing tricks etc.

The regulation exists for one and only reason: the taxes.

There is no need to spread the propaganda of the state. Players on regulated markets are not protected (and affiliates of course not too).

[baldidiot]

This is the cycle that a lot of industries go through, and I think a lot of people saw it coming with the UKGC from a mile (or kilometer) away.

(We use miles in the UK)

[rmeeuwsen]

The regulation exists for one and only reason: the taxes.

It has always been about money. Not for one second have I ever considered that gaming regulations are about consumer “protection” or a way to “help” save people from the “evils” of gambling. Some people however do believe it and swallow that tripe. Others simply repeat it knowing full well that it is a lie only to advance their own agenda.

start losing ground as a result

Yup!


Next question
Does anyone see any hope that the UKGC will change?

[statsdrone]

The taxes were there before but it was changing in the max bet laws and the excessive fines with all companies feeling threatened that they would be next with fines. It has caused decent companies to voluntarily leave the market. The end result are less options for players and affiliates and possibly more crypto focused sites coming in where they not only bypass all of the above but sadly avoid the self-exclusion lists. Hence the rise of good ole non gamstop casinos.

[potentialeight]

Overall, it seems like a straightforward case of what happens when you create incentives for a certain behavior. If you create enough incentives for them to leave (ie: disincentives for them to stay), then it's not surprising.