The Gambling Revolution: UK's New White Paper and BGC's role"

The British Gambling Commission (BGC) has recently declared its full readiness to work with the UK government on a future White Paper on gambling. This announcement is a crucial step towards regulating and safeguarding an ever-evolving industry. The BGC's proposed collaboration plan aims to promote responsible gaming and consumer protection through a series of innovative measures, including the promotion of self-limitation tools and the implementation of new responsible advertising policies. These measures will bring significant changes, but it is hoped that regulatory stability will prove necessary to ensure that gaming operators can focus entirely on their customers.

"Self-limitation is one of the most important tools applied in the Italian gambling market to protect consumers and further spread Responsible Gaming policies. We believe that the promotion of such measures in the UK, a reference market for European gaming together with Italy, could further strengthen the message that the industry is sending to the public for safe gaming. Regarding advertising policies, we consider it fundamental for operators to channel all their proposals on B2B media and in protected time slots, to protect minors and users at risk. In Italy, in spite of the limitations imposed by the Dignity Decree, a regulation that we can define as Total Ban, the sector continues to grow in terms of collection and spending”, tells us Natalia Chiaravalloti, head writer of the specialised site Giochidislots.

The use of technology will be crucial in this revolution. The BGC is focusing on advanced technological solutions to better protect players and promote responsible gaming behaviour. "For example, in Italy they have already implemented tools based on Big Data and AI to monitor user behaviour. These technologies are key to identifying any risky behaviour of users registered to online platforms. In this way, operators can act by contacting users directly and limiting cases of pathological gaming. In the same way, other tools such as deposit limits and session time limits, which are often associated with alert messages about irresponsible and risky behaviour, are proving useful,' explains Chiaravalloti.

"The collaboration between BGC and the UK government represents a unique opportunity to give a new direction to the UK gambling industry. Through teamwork and shared purpose, it will be possible to achieve the common goal of a safer and more responsible industry. In an era of rapid change and ever-changing challenges, the BGC's proposal represents a progressive vision for the future of gambling. An industry capable of combining economic development and consumer protection, through the adoption of social responsibility and sustainability policies,' concludes the head writer of Giochidislots.

The new White Paper represents a moment of historic change for the UK and its publication should draw a line under the often-polarised debates on gambling. Betting and gambling in general are very popular, contrary to many false myths, the number of people betting is stable and not increasing, problem gambling rates are stable and low, and gambling operators represent a solid business investing billions in the UK economy. The aim now should be to continue to promote higher standards while investing in jobs and businesses in the UK's world-leading regulated sector.