The UK government’s gambling minister has aired concern about offshore operators promoting overseas brands using white label operations.
Speaking at GambleAware’s annual conference, Baroness Twycross said her concerns here chiefly related to football and that she is engaging with the UK gambling regulator, the Gambling Commission, and the industry to gather further evidence of their “prevalence and impact.”
“If further action is needed, we will take it,” she said.
Her comments came amid the controversy involving BC.Game. The Leicester City sponsor has denied a court ruling in Curaçao declaring that the operator is facing bankruptcy.
Last week, BC.Game shuttered its UK operations, bringing the sponsorship deal with the Premier League club into further question.
Melanie Ellis, a partner at Northridge Law specialising in betting and gaming, said: "It is not clear what such action might involve, as requiring all advertisers to hold their own licence could mean the end of white label arrangements.
"More specific and rigorous due diligence requirements on white label partners could be on the agenda, however."
On gambling advertising, Baroness Twycross said the amount of promotion that is “appropriate” needs to be considered as an “aggregate” metric, not operator by operator.
“I do not stand here today to tell you what that volume must be,” she said, while insisting that any and all advertising “must not exacerbate harm.”
The gambling minister also touched on the statutory levy to fund gambling harm research, education and prevention, outlined in full last week after its mention in the UK’s white paper on reforming the industry.
While she said switching the provision of gambling harm support to the NHS will “unify service provision and raise standards,” she added that collaboration with third-sector charities like GambleAware – which has for a while spearheaded work in this area – will be “crucial.”
“It is hugely important to get this decision right as we build a sustainable, futureproof system. We hope to confirm our plans in the coming weeks,” Baroness Twycross said.
