Loopholes in the block of card payments for gambling in the UK
As of April 1, it was forbidden to make payments in casinos and bookmakers by credit or debit card. However, a study by the University of Bristol and GambleAware has detected technical and legal gaps in the implementation of this measure. What are they about? We analyze them with a magnifying glass.
A study by GambleAware and the University of Bristol ensures that 28 million cards do not have the option to block payments for online casinos or sports betting. The study proposes recommendations at various levels to fill the technical gaps and, thus, increase the effectiveness of the measure. ©TheDigitalWay/Pixabay
A new study reveals that there are technical and legal obstacles to the proper implementation of the ban on card payments for sports betting and casino games. This is a measure approved by the British executive to ending gambling addiction in the country .
According to this study commissioned by GambleAware and conducted by the University of Bristol, only eight banks in the UK offer the ability to refuse payments for certain products such as online casinos and bookmakers. This is 60% of the total number of personal accounts. The number of cards that lack this payment blocking system would exceed 28 million. To put an end to this loophole, GambleAware advocates the standardization of these systems on all credit and debit cards issued in the country.
Another problem is in the duration of the block offered by the systems. In three of these eight entities that offer them, they can be activated and deactivated immediately, without an intermediate period. According to the study, it would rather be a switch, and not a real lock. For greater effectiveness in problem gambling control systems, the report points out that it would be necessary apply 48-hour lockdowns . GambleAware calls on the banking sector for the development of these expense control products among players, as well as the government to create a legal framework by which banks apply such tools on a mandatory basis.
"Protecting users from the harmful effects of gambling requires banks to fully contribute to providing consumers with effective measures to block gambling-related transactions. While some banks have acted proactively to help protect players from these harmful effects, the results of this study indicate that improvements can and should be introduced. We encourage the banking industry to work with governments and regulators to implement the proposed recommendations.” – Marc Etches , Executive Director of GambleAware in a press release
During the survey conducted as part of this study, GambleAware highlighted in the report that only half a million make use of these locks to be available, partly due to ignorance of their existence. The report points out that these blocking systems, together with other measures such as self-exclusion, can be effective in ending gambling addiction. In those players with addiction problems, these systems could be used to avoid 2 or 3 transactions a month. GambleAware considers it appropriate to increase awareness campaigns to give visibility to the possible use of these control tools by users.
Similar actions in Europe against problem gambling
The online gambling in Europe it continues to grow and the predictions do not point to that it will stop in the short-medium term. Civil society organizations have expressed their fear of the increase in gambling addiction , especially because of the great appeal that online sports betting has for the youngest.
In the last year, different European governments have addressed this complex and controversial phenomenon by application of stricter limitations to online gambling in countries with regulated markets. The Spanish government has recently introduced new restrictions on the draft Royal Decree on advertising of the commercial communications of the gaming sector that have not sat well with the sector at all.
In Sweden the industry sent a letter to the government in protest of a new wave of measures that would further reduce the sector after the last one that came into force just a few months ago. Denmark adopted a tax increase for regularized online gambling with the idea of creating a relief fund aimed at the rehabilitation of players with addiction problems. For its part, Germany, in the process of regularizing online gambling at the state level, has reached an agreement with the multinational VISA to cancel card payments related to online gambling .
The sector warns that a greater number of restrictions of this nature endanger the viability of an industry that pays taxes, creates jobs and adopts responsible gambling measures as stipulated by the regulation in force. The industry insists that this type of measures encourages the channeling of illegal online gambling with all the consequences that this entails. The sector calls for dialogue and cooperation from governments to create the necessary conditions that promote a safe and integral game for all parties involved.
