The Great Britain Gambling Commission’s mission is to protect gamblers across the nation by licensing, regulating, advising, and guiding both bettors and operators within its jurisdiction. Key to achieving this goal is the commission’s commitment to actively listen to the needs and concerns of bettors, as Sarah Gardner, chief executive, discussed during her speech in Gibraltar on July 8th.
Last year, the British market surpassed £15 billion in Gross Gambling Revenue for the first time. The industry is booming. This is why, as Sarah Gardner explains, it is more important than ever that the commission’s decisions are based on facts, or as she puts it, “guided by the evidence.” To this end, the commission has increased initiatives to stay in touch with all interested parties.
Tell Us Something in Confidence – the anonymous reporting programme
A few months ago, in December 2023, the Gambling Commission launched a new reporting service called “Tell Us Something in Confidence.” This service allows anyone to report criminal or suspicious activities anonymously, online. Activities that can be reported include match-fixing, sports betting integrity issues, underage gambling, money laundering concerns, suspicious activity, unlicensed gambling, or other criminal activities.
The novelty of the “Tell Us Something in Confidence” website is its ability to offer a centralised platform where users can upload any information to support their claims or suspicions, such as images, screenshots, or documents.
The Gambling Survey for Great Britain
The commission has also developed the largest survey on gambling behaviours in the world to date. Known as the Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB), this annual initiative gathers data from 20,000 respondents.
On July 8th, the Gambling Commission released Wave 2 of findings from the GSGB, which surveyed 5,000 people and focused on gambling participation. One of the main findings is that 48 percent of adult respondents (over 18 years old) have gambled in the last month. The survey also explored player preferences, revealing for example that many players only participate in lottery draws, with scratchcards being the second most popular.
Our Consumer Voice
“We also hear concerns sometimes, that we don’t do enough to hear from consumers who suffer no harm from their gambling,” stated Sarah Gardner during her speech. However, she explained, the Gambling Commission has launched different initiatives to engage with consumers who gamble recreationally.
The “Our Consumer Voice” program is designed to gather views, opinions, and insights from bettors in Great Britain. “In the last year, we have spoken to over 7,000 consumers through the program, covering topics including the cost of living, bonus offers and incentives, financial risk checks, and consumer trust,” declared Sarah Gardner.
Protecting players
WhatBonusCode.co.uk explains how seeking bonuses can lead players to illegal websites, risking their financial and data security, among other dangers. WhatBonusCode.co.uk declares, “by promoting legal bonus sites, we aim to reduce the risk of people being exploited by offshore companies. We also combat the appearance of illegal offshore sites in Google search results — sites that neglect players protection and regulatory compliance.”
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