Betting Provider Entain calls for Stricter Gambling Regulations in the UK

Betting giant Entain, the company behind popular betting sites Ladbrokes and Coral, has called for tougher regulations for betting and gambling in the United Kingdom. Speaking at the World Regulatory Briefing, Entain’s Chair Barry Gibson suggested that the gambling regulations in the United Kingdom require a complete makeover that would help betting sites achieve a higher standard of responsible and safer betting.

The comments from Gibson come at a crucial time for the UK betting and gaming industry. With the Government preparing to publish a historical White Paper on gambling which is expected to modernise the rules and regulations of the industry. Speaking ahead of the UK Betting and Gaming Council’s AGM last week, Gambling Minister Paul Scully gave a speech which built up the anticipation, focusing solely on the White Paper and what betting sites could expect from it.

Entain’s call for stricter measures also comes after several high-profile incidents involving leading UK betting sites, the latest of which is the internal compliance investigation announced by 888 Group following information that the company’s standards of responsible gambling and anti-money laundering were not adhered to in relation to the company’s VIP customer accounts in the Middle East. The company running popular betting sites 888sport, 888casino, and William Hill, let its CEO go and shuffled staff across its executive positions in an attempt to maintain stability and trust.

In other news, the UK Gambling Commission has been very active in taking regulatory action against bookmakers and betting sites which do not adhere to its standards and requirements. For example, the Commission recently fined betting site TonyBet £442,750 for issues with its anti-money laundering and responsible gambling policies. The announcement came only days after Vivaro Limited, the company behind popular betting site vbet, was required to pay £337,631 for similar issues.

Speaking about the UK regulations, Gibson said:

“A good regulator is one that has player safety at its core but that also takes into account the interests of the broader industry – operators, employees, sporting bodies – working in proper consultation with the industry to create an environment that balances an open recreational market with the need to provide the highest levels of player protection.”

Entain’s Chair went on to explain in detail the various measures taken by his company to ensure that the betting sites it operates (Ladbrokes, Coral, bwin, and others) prioritise customer safety and minimise any potential harm from gambling. Entain is particularly proud of its new responsible gambling initiative, the Advanced Responsibility and Care (ARC) Scheme. The Scheme was formed after a reshuffle of Entain’s executive position, which is believed to have been a response to the large fine the company was issued by the UK Gambling Commission. Having been found to have failed to uphold social responsibility and anti-money laundering regulations, Entain was required to pay a record fine of £17m.

As a direct response to this, Entain has ensured that nothing like that happens again with its betting sites in the UK and globally. One of the leading betting providers in the world, the company values customers’ trust and has proved that it is dedicated to the safety and security of bettors and their funds. As part of this, the company’s ARC programme means that various additional checks are performed on customers when they reach certain threshold or triggers when using Entain’s betting sites.

Despite the large fine issued by the UK Betting and Gambling commission, Entain has a long history of ensuring safe and responsible gambling. The company’s efforts culminated in their receipt of the Safer Gambling Operator of the Year award in 2020, as well as the prestigious Socially Responsible Sportsbook of the Year.

Entain’s ARC Scheme relies on various actions, which all aim to improve betting experience by making it safer, more responsible, and harmless. These include funding and participating in research to better understand the harm from gambling, educating everyone involved in betting and gaming, from the customers to those working to maintain the betting sites, and promoting responsible actions and attitudes. Other actions and initiatives involve empowering bettors to make the right choices, helping those affected by gambling to recover, and driving cultural change across the industry.

While the White Paper on gambling in the United Kingdom may be a controversial issue at present, it is apparent that not everyone is worried about stricter measures and regulations. With companies like Entain on board and leading the change, other betting providers and betting sites will undoubtedly embrace the rules if they mean safer, more responsible way of participating in betting in gaming online.