The initiative is part of a wider sector reform in the UK. There, ministers are currently reviewing the country’s 2005 Gambling Act (the issues of advertising and bonuses, stake limits, speed, and prizes), which will finish at the end of 2021.

Although UK – specific at the moment, it is the signal of a Europe-wide regulatory trend that will soon become reality throughout the continent.

EOGL welcomes the initiative to establish this institutional role within the industry. We are confident this will enhance the industry’s determination to optimize customer protection standards.

The role of Gambling Ombudsman

The plan is that the ombudsman would be mandatory for all current and future licensed betting and gaming operators to sign up at and actively collaborate with this body in the UK.

Once in force, the gambling ombudsman will have the interest of customers in the first place, who would have an independent entity to go in case of irregular treatment by the operator.

The gambling ombudsman would be a balance between consumer freedom and harm prevention. They would ensure customers have protection in both the land-based and online sectors.

Under a similar proposal, an ombudsman would handle customer protection and affordability whereas Gambling Commission would continue overseeing license suitability and compliance issues. Such a body could help to make the relationship between clients and the gambling industry more efficient.

The creation of an ombudsman for the gambling industry was the topic of a variety of campaigners and interest groups, with the government currently carrying out a review of gambling legislation. A Gambling Ombudsman could put the future of current dispute resolution bodies, such as the Independent Betting Adjudication Service, in doubt.

Back in 2011, DOJ issued an official interpretation that Wire Act provisions, banning the interstate data transmission for sports betting wagering, applied only to online sports betting. The then legal opinion has been favourable to US online lottery and casino operators.

However, there are firm indications that DOJ considers reviewing this official position. Given the discussion on this number one legal topic post-PASPA gets re-intensified, there is a broad line of potential negative implications to the existing intra-state US sports betting market, quickly transforming since May 2018.

If adopted, this re-interpretation may bring additional regulatory uncertainty in US sports betting market. The first severe implication would be that banks once again ban gambling-related transactions and declare them illicit.

As US Attorney general left his office this November, it remains to be seen whether this policy proposal came from himself or his acting replacement.

In October, Ministry of Finance introduced the plan for doubling the Gaming tax, as a measure for the 2019 budget.

The University report highlighted the proposed tax reforms would have negative effects on the commercial sustainability of sports betting business. As a consequence, at least 400 betting shops in the country are in risk of closure, along with 1.500 jobs.

Besides the increase of the sports betting tax, betting intermediaries would also face a tax increase from 15% to 25%. Another aim of these measures, due to take effect from January 2019, is to reduce gambling addiction and increase financial contributions to sports and education.