RGA recruits KPMG to launch self-exclusion scheme

The Remote Gambling Association (RGA) has appointed KPMG to help develop the scheme which will enable punters to self-exclude themselves from all Great British Gambling Commission licensed online operators.

KPMG will develop and implement the RGA’s National Online Self-Exclusion Scheme (NOSES), an idea which was first floated in 2014.

The scheme will also set out other measures available to help people to manage their gambling and provide specialist advice and support services for those who might benefit from them.

RGA chief executive Clive Hawkswood hoped the scheme would be in place “before the end of 2017”.

“Self-exclusion can be a vitally important tool, especially for problem gamblers or those who are at risk of developing problems,” said Hawkswood.

“Self-exclusions have long been offered on a company basis, but in terms of consumer protection it will be a huge step forward to have a single national scheme of the type envisaged by government and the Gambling Commission,” he added.

In February this year, Great Britain’s Gambling Commission wrote to all remote gambling licence holders to inform inform them the industry should take forward the project to design, introduce and run a national online self-exclusion system.

Gambling Commission programme director Paul Hope said: “We are very pleased that the RGA is developing the scheme on behalf of the online sector.

“The Commission will work with the RGA to achieve our shared objective of a scheme that is focused on what works best for people that would benefit from using it.”

Micky Swindale, director of KPMG Gibraltar, added: “KPMG are delighted to be working with the RGA on an important opportunity for the industry to work together to put in place a customer-focused, user-friendly system.”

Earlier this year, William Hill said the number of customers opting to self-exclude or entering into a cooling-off period had risen to as many as 3,000 a week.