COVID 19 Guidance Tool by The UK Gambling Commission

As Covid-19 continues to spread all over the world, The UK Gambling Commission has closed its doors and the staff is currently working remotely. However, the Commission has published a new guidance tool for its licensees in response to growing concerns about the impact of the new virus on the British gambling market.

LICENCE APPLICATIONS - PROCESSED ONLINE
Since 17 March, The Gambling Commission has asked people to send the company related documents via email to their Account Manager, instead of sending the documentation by post. Applications are a priority for Licensing and although the staff is working from home, the Commission has set up a few steps to ensure the applications are still being processed. Businesses and individuals are able to make applications online. All applications can be made online apart from:

• Change of Corporate Control applications;
   
• Operating Licence Variation applications, which do not include adding/removing an activity or changing a fee category.
   
• Currently, the Commission is unable to deal with the post, therefore if an application cannot be made online, all documents should be emailed to licensing@gamblingcommission.gov.uk.

AUDITS - COMPLETED IN TWO STAGES 
The first stage can be conducted remotely, with all controls to be assessed. The auditor should clarify within the audit report the reach of the audit and the methods to be used (such as video conferencing, using Skype or Zoom).

In the second stage, the auditor must provide assurances that an onsite visit will be conducted once the travel ban is lifted. The Commission would expect a report in order to review and store on the account. When the next annual audit is due the Commission will compare both reports and review onsite inspection areas.

LOTTERIES - FROM MANUAL TO DIGITAL
The way a society operates the draw from manual to digital should be compliant with Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP) and the Remote Technical Standards (RTS). RTS is applicable to all societies who hold a full remote lottery operating licence and have annual remote ticket sales of more than £250,000. 

For small society lotteries, it is necessary to have the draw date on the ticket or explanation of how the date will be determined. If a small society wants to change the draw date, players must be notified. It is also allowed to switch from non-remote to remote ticket sales without needing extra permissions.

A REMINDER FOR ONLINE OPERATORS
As the social distancing measures are being put into practice, more people will be spending most of their time at home. Therefore, The UK Gambling Commission would like to remind online operators that they must continue to act responsibly, especially regarding individual customer affordability and increased social responsibility interactions. The Commission is expecting licensees to:

• Assess individual affordability on an ongoing basis. Customers may be experiencing disrupted income;
   
• Increase social responsibility interactions and intervene where customers are showing signs of gambling-related harm;
   
• Onboard new customers in a socially responsible way and not exploit the current situation for marketing purposes;
   
• Refresh the information they have on customers regularly;
   
• Review the levels which trigger interaction for AML and SR;
• Ensure that your gambling products have been tested by a test house before they are released to the market.

For more detailed information on the new COVID-19 guidance tool released by the UK Gambling Commission, check out the official announcement.