Can We Expect More Changes to Gambling Legislation in Wales?
Although there has historically been a lack of gambling regulation in the UK, since 2005 work has been done to make sure the industry is kept safe and allows for responsible gambling for players. New regulations should not result in casinos being closed or overly regulated to the point they are not profitable. In fact, they have helped encourage the safe growth of the industry and we can see this already in the opening of new casinos in Wales plus the rise in popularity of online casinos.
Responsible Gambling
There is a difference between responsible gambling and having a gambling problem. This is perhaps where there has been some confusion over the years in the United Kingdom. Taking Wales as an example, a survey was conducted in 2018 and questions were asked to members of the Welsh public face-to-face. The results showed 52% of the people surveyed gambled and this was down by 3% from 2016. However, 0.7% of those people were identified as having a gambling problem and 0.9% were at a moderate risk of developing a gambling problem.
The number of people gambling in Wales, especially online increased in 2020 and 2021. People were restricted in what they could do for entertainment and online gambling was one activity still accessible for those stuck in their homes. Therefore, it is important Wales and the rest of the United Kingdom have laws and regulations in place to ensure everyone who wants to gamble can do so in a fun and safe environment.
As highlighted at the top of the page, prior to 2005 there was no gambling regulatory body in the United Kingdom. That left the UK with a lot of work to do to catch up on missed time in terms of gambling regulation, both online and offline. One of the major changes to be introduced was the ban on using credit cards to gamble. This move was designed to stop people betting more than they could afford and running up credit card bills they could not pay. Another of the major changes to the gambling laws in the UK was the reduction in the maximum bet allowed on Fixed Odds Terminals in bookmakers.
Sports Betting & Advertising
Some people have argued the current changes are not enough and we could be about to see further restrictions introduced. One of the biggest debates surrounds the promotion of gambling companies in sport. Football is a good example and gambling companies have established themselves as one of the leading sponsors in professional football. If you watch a Premier League or Championship match, you are highly likely to see a gambling company on the front of the shirts of the competing teams, on the advertising boards, or both. In terms of television, gambling companies have already been banned from advertising before 9pm but as betting companies sponsor live football and other sporting events, such as darts, they are advertising within the confines of the program showing the sporting event live. Matches are often show at midday and at 5pm, meaning gambling companies can advertise before 9pm in Wales, despite the regulations saying otherwise.
Plans are in motion to ban gambling firms sponsoring football shirts. Discussions with the UK government and professional football clubs is continuing regarding the ban. Should the motion pass, there will be a transition period so the clubs who have recently signed deals with gambling companies do not have to drop them immediately and can slowly phase them out. For example, Everton have recently changed their main shirt sponsor to a gambling company and an immediate ban on gambling brands on football shirts would leave them in a lot of difficulty. The gradual phasing out of the football shirt sponsorship for gambling companies makes more sense. In Wales, the top two football clubs are Cardiff City and Swansea City, neither of which have a gambling sponsor on the front of their shirt. However, they do have advertising space around the pitch and that can be purchased by gambling companies.
Strong critics of gambling advertising in sport say this is not enough and gambling companies should also be banned from advertising on the boards inside football stadia. The advertising boards around the pitch are prominent and seen clearly by those inside the stadium and watching on television. The regulations may be tightened and although it is not likely to be banned completely, the number of times a gambling advert will be displayed around the pitch during a match could be limited.
Online Casinos & Gambling
As mentioned earlier, there has been a rise in popularity of online casinos. According to expert reviews, high yearly profits in the industry means that there are always new casino sites entering the fray and competing for some of the market share. They usually do this by offering free bets and online gambling promotions, and these have also been discussed as an area for change in Wales. A free bet promotion is an effective way for an online gambling company to tempt new users. However, critics are saying it is leading young people into gambling who are perhaps easier to influence than older adults. Free bets could also tempt recovering gambling addicts to return to betting so online gambling promotions are another area of gambling legislations that could change soon in Wales.
If the changes in legislation encourage those who want to gamble on sport and play casino games to do so safely, they will be welcomed by the industry.