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The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) takes the ability for vulnerable gamblers to exclude themselves from online and land based casinos very seriously, as this has been proven by a £7.8 million penalty that has been charged to 888 after “significant flaws” in this process.
What happened?
The UKGC investigation found that due to a technical issue with 888’s systems, players who had opted for the site’s self-exclusion option were still able to play on 888’s bingo sites, despite being excluded from the casino, poker, and sports platforms.The issue went unnoticed for a significant period, meaning that those customers who were affected by the glitch could deposit a total of £3.5 million into their accounts after excluding themselves.
Failure to Protect
Sarah Harrison, CEO of the UKGC, said of the ruling:“Safeguarding consumers is not optional. This penalty package of just under £8 million reflects the seriousness of 888’s failings to protect vulnerable customers.“The 888 sanction package will ensure those affected don’t lose out, that the operator pays the price for its failings via a sum that will go to tackling gambling-related harm, and that independent assurance will be given to see that lessons are learnt.”888 were also called out on their inability to spot and protect problem gambling, with one player having spent over £1 million, some of that having been stolen from their employer.The player gambled for approximately 3-4 hours per day, placing bets in large numbers, and the lack of interaction between 888 and this player was also flagged as a serious concern.£3.5 million of the fine will be used to reimburse the deposits by the self-excluded players, £62,000 will go to the company who had their money stolen, and the remaining funds will be given to a socially responsible cause dedicated to tackling gambling related harm.