There are always a lot of moving parts when it comes to the world of online gambling.
There are always being innovations that come to the fore, resulting in new types of games and features.
Naturally, this is exciting for the everyday gambler who enjoys having something fresh to sink their teeth into.
However, there are concerns that with each new development that there could be a corresponding increase in problem gambling rates.
With many gambling operators looking for ways to get their users to spend more time and money on their platforms, the authorities need to keep a close eye on the proceedings.
This is why gambling regulators like the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC).
Come into play. They make sure that the gambling sector is kept in line and that all developments are done in as safe of a way as possible.
This article will look at how the UKGC manages to achieve these goals.
What is the UKGC
The UKGC is the chief gambling regulator in the UK. It has a number of key responsibilities.
This includes handing out licenses to gambling operators and making sure that they are compliant with the relevant rules and regulations.
There is also an onus on the UKGC to bring in strict regulations when needed as new types of gambling come to the fore.
They are tasked with reigning in the gambling sector to try to cultivate a safe gambling environment.
There have been numerous restrictions that the UKGC has brought into the gambling space over recent years.
One of the most notable changes was the implementation of a ban on the use of credit cards for gambling purposes.
To has also implemented restrictions on stake sizes, as well as banning certain in-game features.
There have also been spin timers introduced for online slots games.
How does GamStop Work?
The UKGC doesn’t just rely on itself to cultivate a safe gambling environment, it also gets help from other bodies. One of these is GamStop.
This is a not-for-profit organization that allows you to quickly and easily self-exclude from all gambling sites that hold a UKGC license.
Once a person self-excludes through GamStop, there is no reversing this exclusion.
They will have to wait out the entire term length. Therefore, it is a useful tool for problem gamblers who wants to avoid temptation.
Naturally, there are going to be people who are self-excluded and who try to still get around this block.
Other Resources to Aid in Problem Gambling
GamStop is not the only organization that is committed to providing tools to gamblers to help them control their gambling as much as possible.
There are many great charities and gambling support organizations out there today helping people in the UK.
These include the likes of GambleAware and TalkBanStop.
They provide a lot of support to people who might be struggling with gambling.
This includes providing support and treatment options for people.
It is vital that these types of organizations get enough funding to carry out their work, as more and more people are seeking treatment for gambling-related issues.
There are also different types of companies that provide different forms of software that allow you to block gambling-related sites.
This covers not just betting sites, online casinos, and poker sites, but will also cover the likes of gambling forums and other related websites.
These tools can be very effective at locking yourself from these types of platforms and they will often work on both mobile devices and desktop computers.
They will often have to be paid for, with monthly subscriptions often being the pricing model.
If you are sick and tired of getting exposed to pro-gambling advertising, then there are ad-blocking tools that you can use in order to stop you from seeing these types of ads online and across social media.
Pro-gambling ads can be very triggering to people who struggle to control their impulses when it comes to gambling.
Finally, many leading banks will give you the ability to block any gambling-related transactions going out of your account.
This is a good way to cut the problem at the source.
GamStop Sites vs Casinos Not on GamStop
One of the big challenges that the UKGC is currently facing as it battles against problem gambling is the likes of non-GamStop casinos.
These are platforms that are based overseas and are not under the oversight of the UKGC.
Therefore, they often have a lot of features that cannot be found on UKGC-licensed platforms.
This includes massive game libraries with titles that are not restricted when it comes to spin timer limitations and bet sizes.
There will also often be more extensive payment options, as well as fewer verification checks, and more lucrative bonuses.
One of the biggest concerns is that people who have self-excluded from UKGC-licensed platforms through GamStop will be able to bypass this exclusion by using the likes of non-GamStop sites.
Therefore, this is a big challenge to the authorities going forward as they try to deal with the steady transition of UK gamblers over to these types of sites.
However, there are some gambling sites like those offered on non-gamstop-casinos.com that provide safe alternatives to UK casinos.
Time will tell
As you can see, there is a lot of good work that the UKGC and GamStop do to help promote responsible gambling.
However, there are still a lot of challenges that these bodies are facing.
The battle against non-GamStop casinos is only heating up and there are likely many twists and turns on the horizon.
For now, people can still gamble in a responsible manner when they stick to UKGC-licensed sites and enjoy the protection that the UKGC has provided them.