Gambling Commission: Trust in industry at all-time low

Trust in the British gambling industry is at an all-time low among consumers, according to new figures from the Gambling Commission.

A representative survey of 2,000 UK adults found just 34% agreed that gambling is “conducted fairly and can be trusted”.

The figure marked a drop-off from the 39% that agreed in 2015, and the 49% that agreed with the statement back in 2012.

Notably, the decrease in trust compared with 2015 came entirely from gamblers, with non-gamblers slightly more trusting compared with last year.

“These findings could be linked to consumers’ concerns about the fairness of terms and conditions, and the odds offered by gambling companies,” the Commission suggested in the report.

The Commission is currently investigating the industry in co-operation with the CMA over claims operators have been breaching consumer law through the use of “unfair” terms and “misleading” practices.

The survey also introduced questions about terms and conditions, to reflect “the Commission’s concerns about potential breaches of consumer law in the gambling industry”.

The results showed just 23% of people had read terms and conditions, with a quarter of those saying they thought the terms were unfair.

The biggest complaint was over excessive wagering requirements for bonuses and free bets, which one survey respondent said was a way to get players addicted to gambling.

Some operators like Betfair have been taking steps to clean up the conditions of their bonuses and offers, with industry insiders suggesting self-regulation could help appease regulators.