Susan Biddle reveals her top three industry predictions for 2018

1. The need for socially responsible provision of gambling will be a key theme, underpinning a number of issues such as: the launch of GAMSTOP and how effective this is; continued debate about the dividing line between gambling and social gaming, and the extent to which social gaming should be regulated. There will be particular concern about children being exposed to gambling-style products; whether there should be a statutory levy to replace the current voluntary funding for research, education and treatment of problem gambling; and a drive towards more co-operation between operators on sharing experiences on what works (or does not work) in relation to identifying and helping problem gamblers and those at risk of becoming problem gamblers. The 5 Live investigation reported in mid-December is perhaps a taste of things to come. Operators will make – or will be under increasing pressure to make – more use of technology (including machine learning and other forms of artificial intelligence) to help them to identify actual/potential problem gamblers and the self-excluded, and to help these people to manage (and where appropriate stop) their gambling.
2. A continued focus on consumer protection, with all operators needing to review their T&Cs to take account of the outputs from the current Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) investigation, and vigorous action by the CMA and Gambling Commission against any who do not make the necessary changes. We’ll also see continued active enforcement by the Commission and/or the ASA of the various codes on advertising. Egaming industry predictions for 2018 – including GDPR and lottery regulation
3. An increased regulatory focus on lotteries, in an attempt to shore up the revenue for good causes including: the introduction and enforcement of the bar on betting on non-UK EuroMillions; the need to make clear what proportion of lottery proceeds go to which good causes; requiring those offering bets on international lotteries to make very clear that this is betting, & not a lottery raising funds for good causes; the competition for the new National Lottery licence and follow-up of the National Audit Office’s report on Camelot’s profits and contribution to good causes; and close scrutiny (by the Gambling Commission and/or the ASA) of the various attempts to sell houses via free prize draws and skill competitions.This article was first published on EGR December 2017

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