Mandatory GamProtect involvement “very much on the table”, GC exec warns

Gambling Commission executive director Tim Miller has outlined the reasons behind why operators should join GamProtect now, before it could potentially become mandated by the regulator. 

GamProtect was officially launched at an activation event in London yesterday, 11 September, with several operators in attendance to get to grips with and delve into the single customer view (SCV) scheme. 

It is a project that has been in the works since February 2020 and that has finally come to fruition, with the companies taking part now able to share customer data with each other in a bid to minimise the risk of gambling-related harm, and, ultimately, close accounts if needed. 

Miller, who spoke at the event and shed light on the support provided by Gambling Commission with GamProtect, also sat down with EGR as he delivered a message aimed at the operators who are yet to express an interest in GamProtect. 

At the time of writing, some of the biggest names in the industry have backed the project, including Flutter-owned duo Paddy Power and Betfair, as well as bet365, William Hill, and Entain’s Ladbrokes and Coral.

Touching on the early stages of GamProtect, Miller said: “What we’ve seen is that this is a system that appears to be working. It is identifying consumers at risk of significant harm. It is benefiting those consumers.  

“It’s benefiting operators. Talking to the operators that are involved, they found it really valuable in terms of it being a tool to help them meet their regulatory obligations.” 

Miller continued by talking up the benefits of joining the scheme at this stage, as he added: “Those that are not currently involved have an opportunity to benefit from it as well. I think the final advantage of being involved now is it’s not a management requirement at this stage.  

“Here’s your chance to actually play a part in shaping something that might in the future become mandatory.

“[In] my experience, and from talking to operators, it’s much better that you play a part in building things that might be expected of you in future, rather than sitting back and maybe having something imposed upon you that you don’t feel as comfortable [with].” 

Miller explained that there is likely to come a time where all operators are expected to be involved in GamProtect, but he admitted a reluctance to make it mandatory at this stage. 

He continued: “I think holding back a little bit until we consider mandating actually creates that space for what’s been a fairly innovative, much more collaborative way of working which, in the end, benefits the consumer.

“But I do think there will come a point where, after fairness to those operators that have stepped forward voluntarily, out of ensuring that all consumers have equal levels of protection, that we may want to consider ‘is this now at a point where we can mandate it?’

“I don’t think we’re there yet, but that option is very much on the table, and I think [it’s] better for people to get involved voluntarily now to help shape the future.” 

Since GamProtect launched in a test capacity in April 2023, more than 5,500 red flags have been raised over potentially vulnerable customers.  

Kane Purdy, GamProtect chair, also called on operators to step up and become involved in the SCV, with the exec claiming it is “easy to understand and easy to implement”.