BGC Introduces Global Standards for Online Gambling Regulations

By Jerry Smith Staff Writer Updated: 10/23/2024

Jerry Smith Staff Writer See Full Bio

Jerry’s greatest advantage is his extensive experience on the casino floor. His time as a casino manager taught him everything about what makes a player tick. Besides being a skilled poker player, he has deep knowledge of all live table games and gambling regulations in the US.

Online Gambling Regulations

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) recently launched its International Best Practice Guide, aimed at improving global online gambling regulation. This manual provides a roadmap for regulators to adopt balanced policies that enhance consumer protection, support market integrity, and prevent illegal gambling activities.

Key Objectives of the Guide

By focusing on areas like regulated market participation, consumer protection, and crime prevention, the guide provides a comprehensive framework for both new and established gambling markets to follow. Here are the five primary objectives:

High channelization into regulated markets: It encourages players to engage with licensed operators.
Consumer protection strategies: Safeguards vulnerable individuals through measures like deposit limits and self-exclusion options.
Preserving competition and consumer choice: Ensures fair play and a variety of options for players.
Keeping gambling crime-free: Focuses on combating money laundering and match-fixing.
Raising tax revenue: Promotes tax policies that encourage local investment by gaming operators.

Impact of the Guide on Global Policymaking

The guide is set to shape how global regulators approach online gambling policy by providing clear, evidence-based recommendations. It encourages governments to adopt balanced policies that protect consumers while sustaining industry growth. It also promotes international cooperation, helping regulators tackle illegal gambling across borders and create secure gambling environments worldwide.

Grainne Hurst, CEO of the BGC, highlighted this manual’s importance:

For the first time, the BGC has brought together the lessons, both positive and negative, which have been learned by operators and regulators around the world when it comes to the online gaming sector.

Pierre Tournier, Director of International Affairs at the BGC, added that the guide is a response to regulatory challenges worldwide, designed to help regulators avoid mistakes seen in other markets and provide evidence-based frameworks for policy development.

Challenges Highlighted by the BGC

The document warns that overly restrictive regulations can reduce market competitiveness and drive consumers to black-market operators. A key focus is the importance of creating a regulatory framework that ensures player safety without stifling the industry’s growth.

Lessons Learned from Global Experiences

The UK’s regulatory environment is cited as a successful model for balancing consumer protection and market growth. The BGC encourages other nations to learn from such examples and implement best practices that reflect their unique market dynamics.

Technology and Enforcement in Regulation

A significant element of the guidebook is the role of technology in modern regulation. The BGC emphasizes that technological advances can help monitor player behavior, ensuring real-time intervention when necessary. This can improve both consumer safety and enforcement efforts to prevent illegal gambling.

Additionally, the handbook underscores the importance of cross-border cooperation among regulators, highlighting that effective online gambling oversight must be international. By sharing data and best practices, regulators can better detect illicit operators and protect consumers globally.

Call to Policymakers

The BGC stresses that regulators and lawmakers must take a balanced approach to fostering innovation while safeguarding consumers. The guide acts as a toolkit for policymakers to build sustainable and responsible online gambling ecosystems that serve the industry and the public interest.