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Illegal casinos have been the subject of many debates among the authorities who want to minimize their numbers. However, it seems that unlicensed operators attract more and more users. This poses a problem for the UKGC, as their vows to protect users and ensure safety can only extend in some places.
However, this is also a problem for the UK Parliament as a whole. Illegal gambling is part of discussions within the “White Papers,” where Lords and Ministers discuss the safety of the British people.
To help you understand the situation and its significance, this article is built as an explanation that starts with the UK Parliament and the white papers. Afterward, we will dive into illegal casinos and their recent upswing.
UK Parliament and the White Paper Debates
To understand what white papers are and why they’re so important, we must first understand the inner workings of the UK Parliament, where the debates take place and are recorded. In fact, the oldest records available are from the late 17th century, Oxford’s online library informs us.
The UK Parliament consists of two houses that must approve each other’s decisions before they are instituted. One of them is the House of Commons, which consists of elected members and where most decisions regarding political issues and law proposals happen.
The second is the House of Lords, where members appointed by the King, internally elected, and even a few representatives of the Church are present. The white papers include both houses, their discussions, and their decisions.
Gambling Review White Papers
The UK Parliament gives us a great definition of “White Papers”: “White papers are policy documents produced by the Government that set out their proposals for future legislation.” Therefore, white papers are the foundation of every law taken in the UK.
On the UK Parliament’s website, you can follow the pressing white papers’ discussion on gambling issues. For example, volume 823, debated on Wednesday, 20 July 2022, on gambling, lets us know through Lord Foster of Bath that, in the UK, “60,000 children are already classified as gambling addicts.”
Our fact-checkers confirmed this as mostly true, although it is an approximation. Based on the National Audit Office declarations, we see that the actual number is 55,000.
However, the gravity of the situation is recognized later in the same volume. It’s the moment when Lord Bishop of St Albans repeats the number of addicted children and asks the Government to hasten their decision to protect the British people and their children.
KingCasinoBonus Reveals Black Market’s Insights
You can find the alarming results outside of the white papers as well. One of the studies by KingCasinoBonus shows that over a month, more than 1000 players registered on unlicensed casinos, making them an easy target for scammers.
As the gambling industry is expected to exceed £149 billion by 2030, KingCasinoBonus’ statistics predict the same upward trend for illegitimate casino operators for the upcoming two years.
Furthermore, this study informs us that in 2019, the monthly number of players registered in unlicensed casinos was only half what it is now. This points to a frightening trend that must be stopped to decrease the rate of addiction.
Users Risk More Than They Think
Unlicensed casinos are more predatory than you think. Due to their freedom from regulation, the bonuses you receive and the games you play can be rigged since they face no repercussions for their actions.
In a situation where an unlicensed casino has tricked you, you cannot claim to be protected by the law considering the casino is not regulated. Therefore, your money will probably not be returned to you.
Although there are waves of interest in illegal casinos worldwide, know that the bonuses you receive from these venues can be easily modified to your disadvantage. They can be changed without notice, can purposefully put you in a difficult situation to claim more money from you, or are simply not functional.
The Obligations of Licensed Casinos
Above, we saw the number of children gambling addicts in the UK. If you think illegal casinos have nothing to do with it, think again.
Usually, regulated casinos are obligated to do the Know Your Customer procedure, which includes the player’s age. This helps them identify fraudulent activities and keeps underage gamblers out of the industry.
Illegal casinos do not need the KYC procedure, meaning underage citizens can gamble unbothered on their virtual platforms. This is not only a problem for gamblers old enough to gamble; it’s a problem that can create severe damage to a child’s developing mind.
Will 2023 Receive New Gambling Regulations?
According to Flutter Entertainment’s Chief Executive Peter Jackson, the Gambling Act white paper will be discussed again next year. We do not know if the new Gambling Act will be ready next year.
However, reading discussions on this theme can improve your understanding of the subject and inform you of the real numbers tied to illegal gambling.
David Prior
David Prior is the editor of Today News, responsible for the overall editorial strategy. He is an NCTJ-qualified journalist with over 20 years’ experience, and is also editor of the award-winning hyperlocal news title Altrincham Today. His LinkedIn profile is here.
