The Gambling Commission has unveiled its new three-year Corporate Strategy which sets out the Commission’s focus as it continues to protect the public and players from harm.
The UKGC highlights the important work it intends to deliver over the next three years. The ultimate goal is to remain flexible as the fast-changing industry continues to evolve, and also ensure that a competitive bidding process is completed for the next National Lottery license.
Today we have launched our three-year Corporate Strategy which sets out our focus and commitment to making gambling safer and continuing to protect the public and players from harm. You can read the new strategy here: https://t.co/aV56PPCYGy pic.twitter.com/BGl9ECybx5
— Gambling Commission (@GamRegGB) April 1, 2021
“Given the innovative and fast-moving nature of the gambling industry, and our intention to help the National Lottery go from strength to strength, our regulatory approach cannot standstill.
“We need to adapt to live up to the international reputation we have earned as an effective regulator,” stated UKGC Chairman Dr. William Moyes.
Launched alongside the Commission’s 2021 to 2022 Business Plan, the new Strategy will be delivered through five priority areas:
- protecting children and vulnerable people from being harmed by gambling
- a fairer market and more informed consumers
- keeping crime out of gambling
- optimising returns to good causes from the National Lottery
- improving gambling regulation.
The key issues are similar to the UKGC’s first three-year strategy plan, which debuted in 2018. The 2021 blueprint, the UKGC explains, is designed to build on the achievements and implement policies developed over the past three years.
Current status of the UK gambling industry
Formed in 2005 under the Gambling Act, the UKGC is responsible for the regulation of commercial gambling throughout Great Britain. The agency additionally oversees the National Lottery.
The UKGC oversees one of the largest gaming industries in the world.
Prior to the pandemic, total gross gaming revenue (GGR) in Great Britain for the 12 months between April 2019 to March 2020 totalled £14.2 billion, or roughly $20 billion. By comparison, Nevada’s casino industry reported a 2019 GGR of $12 billion.
Online gaming in the UK continues to expand. The UKGC says online GGR was £5.7 billion during the 12-month period, an increase of 8.1 per cent.
The UKGC oversees more than 10,000 brick-and-mortar betting locations and casinos. That number, however, continues to decrease, as COVID-19 keeps many high street betting shops closed. The 2018 change to the maximum bet on fixed-odds betting terminals dropping from £100 to just £2 also led to hundreds of shops closing.
