Poll results: Online gambling T&Cs are unfair
EGR readers believe the industry needs to clean up trading practices in wake of CMA investigation
In the midst of the CMA’s investigation into the industry’s practices, a small majority of respondents to this week’s EGR poll believe online gambling’s current terms and conditions are unfair.
The UK’s competition watchdog is working together with the Gambling Commission to look into claims operators have been breaching consumer law through the use of “unfair” terms and “misleading” practices.
The Remote Gambling Association’s chief executive, Clive Hawkswood, previously claimed there was no evidence to suggest there were widespread failings in the industry.
But according to this week’s poll, online gambling firms face serious questions, with 57% believing the terms and conditions they provide are misleading and unfair.
However, this still leaves 43% of readers who claim operators are not offering unfair T&Cs as they have been legitimately working within the parameters of the law.
The CMA’s investigation is assessing whether online gambling firms unfairly cancel bets, alter odds after bets had been accepted, and offer misleading sign-up promotions.
There have also been suggestions firms have been using money laundering checks as a way to make it difficult for winning punters to withdraw their cash.
Under the investigation, operators will be required to give evidence and could face enforcement action if found to have breached laws related to both the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and Part 2 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015.