You probably saw the UK Gambling Commission logo at Fable Casino and at many other casinos, if you’ve ever visited them. You probably know very well what UKGC is too, at least in theory. But how much can you tell about them? What does it do and how important is it? Well, you’ll find all about this regulator in a second.
What Is The UK Gambling Commission?
In case it needs an introduction, the United Kingdom Gambling Commission is a non-departmental and independent regulator. However, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in the British government sponsors it.
As a result, it’s the most important legal entity that oversees all things gambling in the country. They have many responsibilities and one of them is licensing casino operators just like us. Like every casino that is legally operating in the UK, Fable Casino also has a licence that the UKGC issued.
The UK Gambling Commission isn’t old. It came into existence in 2005, along with the Gambling Act 2005. This law exists to this day. It regulates the gambling industry and controls its effects on society like never before. In fact, the UK is the most strictly regulated country in the world when it comes to gambling. All this is because of the Commission, the Gambling Act and other related laws.
The Gambling Commission Licence
If you checked the bottom of this site, you’d see the small logo of the Gambling Commission. Pressing on it, you’d be redirected to their website listing information about our software provider and the licences the Commission has given to us. As a legal authority, it shows all the data about licensed companies that operate within the UK.
They don’t just issue licences to casino operators, however. They also license other types of remote gambling, like mobile casinos and telephone gambling. Plus, they license and regulate bingo operators, lotteries, betting and sportsbook companies. Arcades and other gaming machines are also under the jurisdiction of the UK Gambling Commission. Oh, and gambling software developers have to answer to them too. So, they really cover everyone that has anything to do with the gambling industry.
Having a licence is crucial for everyone involved. As of 2014, offering gambling services in the UK is illegal without the licence. What’s more, not everyone can get it. Applicants must contact UKGC first and make sure that the service they want to offer is in line with the requirements. They have to be fair and user-friendly, to support problem gamblers, to make their own terms clear and much more.
This way, the UK Gambling Commission regulates the industry. They make sure that all the companies and individuals offering betting services or providing software are safe and trustworthy. It’s a strategy that works really well. As a result, the United Kingdom has one of the largest gambling industries in the world. If it weren’t for the UKGC, it would remind countries where gambling is illegal and, therefore, much more dangerous.
What Else Does The UKGC Do?
One of the most important goals that the UK Gambling Commission has is preventing crime and disorder in the gambling industry. This includes both consumers and operators. However, they can’t help players that were wronged directly. Instead, they can make the life worse for operators that were mistreating their customers.
The Commission also has to make sure that gambling isn’t accessible to vulnerable people. Problem gambling, addiction and underage gambling are all issues that they have to deal with quite often. For the sake of the topic, around 1% of the UK population have gambling problems. So, it’s up to you to decide if the UKGC is doing a good job.
Finally, it’s their duty to urge the National Lottery and other lotteries to return some of their profit to good causes. Working with other official gambling operators this way, the Gambling Commission works hard to make gambling more trustworthy in general. Being open and transparent is the best way to dispel myths surrounding the gambling industry. Nowhere in the world is this industry as open as in the UK, though.
