Due to be aired tonight, 12th August 2019, at 20.30pm, BBC Panorama are focusing on gambling addiction in the UK. Reports have shown that an increase in gambling related complaints against gambling operators has risen by almost 5,000% in the last five years.
Increase in Betting Activity
In 2018 alone, 8.266 people made complaints, the figures are up some as in 2013, there where only 169 complaints made. Over the past few years’, increase in betting activity has risen which would reflect the rising in complaints.Gambling Commission Executive Neil McArthur told Panorama,“ We are pushing the industry to know its customers, and part of this is actually, possibly a good sign because it’s suggesting that consumers are demanding more of the gambling operators, and I would encourage them to continue to do that.”With the recent introduction to FOBT’s maximum bet slashed from £100 to just £2, the gambling industry were concerned this would reach the online gambling sector, the UKGC have confirmed they have no plans to introduce a minimum stake for online gaming, although it was the Commission who lobbied the UK Government to introduce the lower maximum stake on FOBT’s.
More Protection Needed For Problem Gamblers
Panorama will also look closely at cases of people who have lost huge sums of money gambling online and what operators have done to prevent problem gamblers from losing such huge sums of money, most can ill afford.One case in question was a player called Amanda, she gambled a total of £633,000 over a matter of years playing at Jackpotjoy, this was to include the proceeds from the sale of her property.When questioned, Jackpotjoy claimed they had made all of the necessary regulatory requirements, recommending the player make use of its responsible gambling tools.Jackpotjoy responded to Panorama by saying,“ This included the use of deposit limits, cooling-off periods and alternative withdrawal methods, all tools which Amanda was aware of and used during the time she played.”