The Month in Regulation: Limits, advertising bans and revised targets

The Dutch government will not impose a ban on gambling advertising when the country’s egaming market commences operations in January 2021, ministers have said.

In a letter to the Dutch parliament, Minister for Legal Protection Sander Dekker said that channelization to licensed operators “required certain advertising” and that players must be able to find regulated sites.

“It appears that banning or seriously limiting gambling advertising can have serious negative effects on the degree of channelisation,” Dekker wrote.

The Dutch government now aims for the Remote Gaming Act to come into effect on January 1, 2021. This means that the regulated online market will open on July 1, 2021 instead of January 1 as originally anticipated.

Dekker confirmed the government is aiming to commence regulated egaming and sports betting operations by July 2021 and will issue draft regulations in 2020.

UK MPs call for £2 online casino stake limit

A cross-party group of UK MPs have called for a £2 limit on online slot games following a six-month enquiry into gambling-related harm.

The report, carried out by the Gambling Related Harm All-Party Parliamentary Group (GRH APPG), recommends a ban on betting by credit card and restrictions on VIP accounts, as well as an investigation into non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) used by operators to silence problem gamblers.

The primary focus of the report is a £2 stake limit for online casino slots which mirrors restrictions placed on land-based fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs) back in 2018.

The report reads: “Other than the operator objections, it is not at all clear to us why the Government and regulator are not looking at stake and deposit limits online.”

The UKGC told EGR Intel it was disappointed the report has been released before the regulator had been given a chance to give evidence to the APPG.

HSBC launches self-exclusion tools for gambling transactions

HSBC has introduced optional self-restrictions for gambling transactions as part of its continued efforts to reduce financial harm around gambling.

The self-limits on gambling transactions can be activated by customers online, in-brand or over the phone and can only be reversed after a 24-hour cooling off period. The bank said the option created “positive friction” by giving customers time to consider their decision to gamble.

The self-imposed limits are separate to the ATM-style automatic restrictions that HSBC is aiming to introduce next year.

HSBC head of financial inclusion and vulnerability UK, Maxine Pritchard, said: “With the bank receiving 12,000 calls a year relating to gambling, it’s clear we should do more to support these customers”.

The restriction was developed in partnership with gambling support charities GamCare and GambleAware.

Swedish trade group slams failing Swedish channelisation targets

Swedish trade association BOS has attacked the Swedish Gambling Authority (SGA) over its alleged failure to meet channelisation targets towards Swedish licensed operators.

The comments come after the SGA lowered its channelisation rate estimates to 85-87% and admitted it did not have exact figures.

BOS CEO Gustaf Hoffstedt claimed the reduction reflected the trend towards increased use of unlicensed gambling sites by Swedish players.

“No one that has been paying attention to the political outburst and the astronomical fines on licensed gambling companies can be surprised over this development,” Hoffstedt said.

“Unless the Government takes forceful action to protect its own reregulation the channelisation is likely to decrease further,” Hoffstedt added.

As part of the launch of regulated operations, the Swedish government set a target of at least 90% of Swedish gambling to take place on licensed platforms. In September, the SGA claimed a channelisation rate of 91%.

Spanish regulator adopts operator-led whistle-to-whistle ad ban

The Spanish regulator has approved a new operator-led code of conduct for gambling advertising in Spain, including a whistle-to whistle ban on betting ads during live sport.

The code, developed by Spanish trade association JDigital, includes a prohibition on any adverts concerning bonuses or promotions within any live sporting event.

It also establishes a communications window between 10pm and 6am at which time adverts for gambling may be shown.

Advertisements featuring ‘active athletes’ performing gambling activities will be prohibited under the code, while sign-up bonuses will be limited to a maximum of €200. The code also implies social responsibility principles to gambling advertising.

Elsewhere, adverts which include those under the age of 25 are prohibited and all adverts must feature full terms and conditions and display age-related warnings. The code will take effect from 15 January 2020.