Gambling Commission defends “proactive” approach during Covid-19 lockdown
Neil McArthur grilled by public accounts committee over lockdown data collection and shift to online casino
Gambling Commission (UKGC) chief executive Neil McArthur has defended the regulator’s record during the coronavirus pandemic insisting it has been “proactive” in addressing emerging risks to players.
In a testimony before the UK government’s public accounts committee inquiry, McArthur said the UKGC was constantly looking at the effects of lockdown measures on gambling behaviour in the UK and taking action where required.
“I think we’re doing a lot proactively to address the risks. We’re gathering data from the operators and we have warned the operators of our expectations,” said McArthur. “They’re under no doubt of the consequences if they don’t meet our expectations.
“We have also changed our normal practices in relation to voluntary settlements to make sure that during this period there is secure funding for GambleAware and its important work in terms of treatment, support and prevention education,” McArthur added.
McArthur confirmed to MPs that £8.8m in voluntary settlements had been redirected to GambleAware by the UKGC board.
Voluntary industry donations to safer gambling charity GambleAware broke the £10m barrier for the first time in 2019-2020.
During yesterday’s inquiry, MPs asked repeated questions about the results of player behaviour data being collected by operators during the Covid-19 lockdown and whether there had been an increase in online gambling and potential harm.
McArthur was also questioned about the impact of the Betting and Gaming Council’s 10-point safer gambling pledge.
“We have been focused on gathering the data at the present time; the commitments themselves are relatively new and there’s inevitably a degree of lag between an action and being able to see its impact,” said McArthur.
“In the immediate aftermath of social distancing, we have reached out to the industry and asked for an additional data set,” he added.
McArthur further described a “structural shift towards online slots and casino” in the absence of sports, with UKGC estimates suggesting a 3% rise in operator gross gambling yield for gaming during the first month of the pandemic, which could increase to between 7%-10% based on the disruption lasting up to six months.