Bookies’ body calls for Government-backed gambling ombudsman
British gambling’s standards body has called for a Government-backed ombudsman to handle customer complaints.
The industry has been under the spotlight during a Government-led Gambling Review launched at the end of 2020 after pressure from campaigners.
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Today the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) – which acts as both a standards body and a lobbying organisation – has called on Government to strengthen consumer protection ahead of an anticipated White Paper on the future of the industry.
The ombudsman would work similarly to the Energy Ombudsman, the body’s Chief Executive Michael Dugher said, offering an independent last-resort option for customers with complaints.
The BGC said signing up to the ombudsman would be a legal requirement for all licenced betting and gaming operators in the UK.
Dugher said the industry “recognise the need for further change” and said an ombudsman would “be a step forward in customer redress.”
The White Paper, expected to emerge before the end of the year, is expected to crack down on advertising standards and also push the industry on steps to address problem gambling.
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