“Not fit for purpose”

Andrew Black, the joint-founder of UK sportsbook Betfair, has voiced his concern over the UK Gambling Commission’s (UKGC) seven new commissioners.

not one has any background in gambling

On Tuesday, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport revealed the names of the seven members who have experience in the civil service, the financial sector, health, law, and regulation. Notably, though, not one has any background in gambling.

Speaking on this, Black said that “they are not fit for purpose.” He added that the commissioners will only have a “narrow perspective” and that “they will never develop the understanding they need to regulate our industry in an empathetic manner.”

Black has previously voiced his opinion over the commission’s board and its lack of expertise in gambling. Based on the commissioners’ backgrounds, he believes their thinking would not align with the gambling industry.

A “critical time”

The seven new commissioners are FCA Executive Director Sheree Howard, Charles Counsell who has a background in regulation, along with health expert Dr Helen Phillips, legal experts Lloydette Bai-Marrow, Helen Dodds, and Claudia Mortimore, and finally David Rossington, a former civil servant.

Michael Dugher, Betting and Gaming Council Chief Executive, welcomed the new commissioners, claiming the appointments have come at a “critical time” for the gambling industry. The UKGC created its Industry Forum in September. Consisting of members of the gambling industry, it is intended to provide further insight to the commission into how the industry is regulated.

Black’s comments also come at a time when independent bookmakers have argued that affordability checks are a “complete mess.” They have expressed concern over new rules meaning they may have to carry out checks on customers in UK betting shops. There are fears that without frictionless measures in place for the affordability checks, bettors are going to move to the black market.

Significant financial implications

Elsewhere, leading figures from the British horse racing scene have also voiced their concerns over the black market.

In September, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) stated that each time ￡10m ($12.5m) of British horse racing revenue from gambling goes to the black market, horse racing misses out on ￡1m ($1.25m) in levy funding and another ￡1.5m ($2m) in media rights.

significant financial implications

According to the BHA, “the Gambling Commission continues to underestimate the threat of the black market” and that it could have “significant financial implications.”

A recent YouGov poll found that 53% of respondents believe there is a significant risk that affordability checks could lead to an increase in black market gambling. Speaking on the results, Gamblers Consumer Forum (GCF) head of communications Abbie MacGregor, said: “There can no longer be any doubt the threat of the black market is real and well-known, clearly not just to gamblers but to the wider public.”