Gambling Commission hails efficiency of new personal management licence service
Regulator confirms processing time of changes to licences has shrunk by 77% during lockdown period
The Gambling Commission (UKGC) has highlighted the success of a new online service for individuals wishing to change their personal management licences (PML) which has seen changes processed 77% quicker than previously.
The UKGC confirmed the average processing time had decreased from 53 days when the service was launched in 2019 down to just 12 days in total.
In addition, the time required for personal licence holders to complete and submit a maintenance application to change their licence details has decreased from several days to just under an hour.
The ‘manage your personal licence’ service allows personal licence holders to quickly change personal details, report key events linked to their licence, and download e-copies of the licence itself.
UKGC executive director Helen Venn said the Commission was committed to “continuously improving” its regulatory model referencing the continued effectiveness of the PML service as a demonstration of this commitment.
“It has proven to be particularly critical during the lockdown period as applicants can simply upload all their accompanying documents to the service, as opposed to posting hard copies,” said Venn
“We have tested the service with users from creation to launch and will continue to ensure that it meets their needs through regular user research and feedback.
“Accessibility is vital for us at the Commission and that’s why we have developed this service with accessibility at the forefront, it is essential that all users can use the service quickly and easily,” Venn added.
The UKGC has been attempting to streamline its existing licensing and data collection processes over the last 12 months, simplifying its licensing conditions and reducing the number of reportable events to decrease its administrative burden.
The reviews follow increased criticism of the regulator in several high-profile government reports from groups including the Public Accounts Committee, National Audit Office, the House of Lords and most recently the Social Market Foundation.