Sarah Gardner Warns Against Distraction Tactics in Gambling Regulation

The debate over gambling regulation in Great Britain is reaching a new level of intensity. Sarah Gardner, Acting Chief Executive of the Gambling Commission (GC), spoke out clearly at the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) Conference. She complained that the authority's precious resources are being wasted by endless discussions and strategic objections from market participants. She describes this tactic as 'whataboutery' – the attempt to distract from actual issues in order to delay or completely stop necessary reforms. The focus is particularly on the new Financial Risk Assessments (FRAs), which were confirmed in July and represent a major point of contention for many industry stakeholders.

Gardner made it clear that the Gambling Commission will stick to its course despite the headwinds. While the regulatory landscape in Great Britain is increasingly charged, the authority will not be swayed by frenzied attempts to get the Commission to change course. Rather, the goal is to improve the evidence base and consistently implement consumer protection. She admitted that the debate is getting more heated year on year and that almost every area of regulation is now contested, which massively complicates the work of the officials in Birmingham.

"With new regulatory measures like FRAs or with our continual efforts to improve the evidence base, some commentators like to engage in distracting tactics to try and slow down or stop changes they don’t like." - Sarah Gardner, Acting CEO of the Gambling Commission

Numbers and facts

A central point of the dispute is the Financial Risk Assessments (FRAs). Gardner emphasized that these checks are intended to be frictionless for large swathes of the population. In fact, they could even reduce friction for high-spending consumers who are not experiencing financial difficulties, as fewer documents need to be submitted directly to the operator. The GC is relying on credit rating agencies (CRAs) for this, even though a pilot project showed that different agencies use different methodologies. However, Gardner maintains that this data is the best available source for identifying financial distress early on. The full consultation on the FRAs is now scheduled for publication in autumn, following the initial confirmation of the measures in July.

The fight against the black market also requires massive funds. As part of last year's Autumn budget, the Gambling Commission was allocated an additional £26 million over three years. This is primarily intended to strengthen operational activity against illegal operators. Nevertheless, Gardner admitted that the regulator's capacity remains limited compared to the size of the illegal market. In the past, the GC had to make tough choices and prioritize cases, such as the FutGalaxy case in 2017, where the prosecution of two men offering bets with FIFA Ultimate Team currency consumed a significant proportion of resources.

Background

According to Gardner, there is a glimmer of hope in the cooperation with big tech companies. Companies like Meta and Google have fundamentally changed their approach and are now working more closely with the regulator to prevent advertising for illegal gambling sites. Previously, the GC had sharply criticized these platforms for allowing illegal actors to operate. Gardner also called on the wider advertising and affiliate industry to be 'better global citizens' and ensure they are not knowingly promoting illegal operators alongside the licensed sector. The goal is a proactive approach that does the right thing for consumers and dries up criminal networks.

Why it matters for German players

For German players, these developments in Great Britain are an important signal, as protection against financial overextension also plays a central role here. The German Interstate Treaty on Gambling 2021 (GlüStV 2021) already sets very strict limits, such as the monthly deposit limit of 1,000 euros, which is monitored via the central LUGAS system. While in England there is a debate about automated credit checks, a close-knit network of controls is already in place in Germany for GGL-licensed providers. Anyone playing with a legally licensed provider in Germany does not have to worry about arbitrary checks, as the rules are clearly defined. The focus on licensed offers is crucial, as only there are the strict German player protection standards and the stake limit of 1 euro per spin for virtual slots guaranteed.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

German casinos with a license from the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL) face similar challenges to British operators. The integration of monitoring systems and compliance with advertising guidelines require high investments. Gardner's statements clarify that the fight against the black market can only succeed if regulators, operators, and tech platforms pull in the same direction. GGL casinos benefit in the long term from a clean market but must expect that requirements for transparency and data quality in the OASIS self-exclusion file and the LUGAS system will continue to rise to avoid efficiency problems similar to those in Great Britain.