Last month, the UK Gambling Commission published an online document entitled “Gambling Safety – a quick guide for parents and others”. It’s filled with useful information, especially for online gambling enthusiasts and parents who wish to protect their children from underage wagering over the internet.
The very first tip provided by the commission is to ensure the online poker, casino, bingo or sports betting site in question is actually licensed in the UK. A complete list of UK licensed operators can be found on the public register, a searchable database provided by the UKGC.
Observance of the list is encouraged all the more since the commission passed new regulations requiring all online gambling operators to hold a license if UK players are accepted. As the UKGC pointed out, “If an operator does not have a Commission licence, they are acting illegally by offering gambling to consumers in Great Britain. As a result, they may have their payment facilities withdrawn by the major payment systems organisations – notably MasterCard, PayPal and Visa.”
The next section, Protecting Young People, is of vital importance to parents and guardians, whether they themselves participate in online gambling or not. In the UK, the minimum age to gamble is 18 (except on National Lottery/scratch off, limited to age 16+). Online gambling sites licensed in the UK are required to maintain “up to date policies and procedures deigned to prevent underage gambling; a warning that underage gambling is an offence; a requirement that customers affirm they are legally old enough to gamble”.
Parents can go one step farther by setting parental controls on their children’s computers and mobile devices, or installing software that blocks access to online gambling websites, such as GamBlock or NetNanny. Another non-profit website, Big Deal, helps youth understand the dangers of underage gambling, as well as giving parents advice on how to approach the subject.
The UKGC also describes the way in which player funds are protected by UK licensed online gambling sites, as per regulatory requirements. However, the system’s protection only goes so far. Licensed operators are required to “keep customer funds in a separate bank account/s”, but the document warns that “there is no guarantee that this will ensure that you get all your money back if the company goes bust”.
They must also, “set out clearly in their terms and conditions whether customer funds are protected in the event of insolvency, the level of such protection and the method by which this is achieved.” Players are encouraged to read those terms before selecting an online gambling site because “money staked or deposited…is not protected in the way personal bank deposits are”.
Online gamblers are encouraged to make use of the ability to “set limits on the amount of money or time they spend” betting. If they prefer not to use the embedded control systems, they can at least “set timers or other forms of reminders or ‘reality checks’ to ensure they don’t lose track of time or how much they are spending.”
Anyone who has a gambling problem, or knows someone with a gambling problem, is advised to seek help. GambleAware.co.uk provides information on problem gambling and where to get help. The UKGC also provides a responsible gambling page that details ways to get help for problem gambling.