RGA confirms NOSES to be called GAMSTOP
This title makes a little more sense when you learn that RGA and NOSES are acronyms for the Remote Gambling Association and nationwide online self-exclusion scheme.
Self exclusion refers to mechanism that enables players to block themselves from playing at an online casino and all UK licensed operators must have the required SE systems in place. It’s been an area of focus for the Gambling Commission (UK) recently.
Last month they announced they were reviewing 888’s self exclusion systems. Meanwhile, they and have been working on a completely revamped scheme (GAMSTOP) that will enable players to self exclude from all online gambling sites licensed in the UK at once, rather than simply blocking themselves from the site they are registered with. Makes a lot more sense really.
If I were a problem gambler and made the step to block myself from William Hill, in reality I’m only 3 minutes away from being able to place a bet at bet365, 888, Betvictor etc etc.
Of course UK Gambling Commission licensee operators are still a subset of the global online gambling industry, so absent some self control, problem gamblers will always have temptations.
The Gambling Commission wasn’t completely pre-occupied with GAMSTOP last month. They did also release their bi-annual industry stats, which always make for interesting reading.
The report revealed that in the year to September 2016, punters in the UK dropped £13.8 billion on all forms of gambling, £4.5 billion (or 32%) of which was spent gambling online.
Here’s another fact that might surprise. Great Britain has 147 casinos! Who knew there were that many?
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