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| Online casinos 'failing on problem gambling' | Online casinos 'failing on problem gambling' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Online casino operators are failing to protect problem gamblers or prevent money laundering, the Gambling Commission has warned. | Online casino operators are failing to protect problem gamblers or prevent money laundering, the Gambling Commission has warned. |
| It has written to all 195 UK operators and warned them to review procedures. | It has written to all 195 UK operators and warned them to review procedures. |
| Many were unable to spot signs of financial crime and compulsive gambling, it said. | Many were unable to spot signs of financial crime and compulsive gambling, it said. |
| It is investigating 17 companies, with five under licence review. If a company loses its licence, it would no longer be able to operate in the UK. | It is investigating 17 companies, with five under licence review. If a company loses its licence, it would no longer be able to operate in the UK. |
| None of the operators under investigation has been named by the regulator. | None of the operators under investigation has been named by the regulator. |
| A third of all gambling in the UK now takes place online, and the industry is worth billions of pounds. | A third of all gambling in the UK now takes place online, and the industry is worth billions of pounds. |
| But the commission is concerned that customers whose gambling is becoming compulsive are not being followed up. | But the commission is concerned that customers whose gambling is becoming compulsive are not being followed up. |
| It reviewed a large number of customer accounts and found "potential signs of problem gambling based on consumers' gambling pattern and spend", it said. | It reviewed a large number of customer accounts and found "potential signs of problem gambling based on consumers' gambling pattern and spend", it said. |
| "In many cases, however, this behaviour did not trigger a customer interaction." | "In many cases, however, this behaviour did not trigger a customer interaction." |
| 'Online casinos should have a duty of care' | 'Online casinos should have a duty of care' |
| David Bradford's family only discovered his secret gambling addiction when he was jailed for a £50,000 fraud. | David Bradford's family only discovered his secret gambling addiction when he was jailed for a £50,000 fraud. |
| The accountant received an eight-month sentence in 2014 and his stunned family discovered the secret gambler was almost £500,000 in debt. | The accountant received an eight-month sentence in 2014 and his stunned family discovered the secret gambler was almost £500,000 in debt. |
| He had also taken out payday loans and remortgaged the family home in Sheffield. | He had also taken out payday loans and remortgaged the family home in Sheffield. |
| Mr Bradford, now 61, said that rather than helping gamblers who were trying to stop, casinos sent "lots of offers to get back on the bandwagon". | Mr Bradford, now 61, said that rather than helping gamblers who were trying to stop, casinos sent "lots of offers to get back on the bandwagon". |
| He added: "They only really answer to their shareholders … there is a need for a duty of care." | He added: "They only really answer to their shareholders … there is a need for a duty of care." |
| His son Adam Bradford said gambling should be treated as a mental illness. | His son Adam Bradford said gambling should be treated as a mental illness. |
| The 25-year-old added: "I hope this measure is not simply a threat and if companies do lose their licences for breaches of the code, then it is a step in the right direction." | The 25-year-old added: "I hope this measure is not simply a threat and if companies do lose their licences for breaches of the code, then it is a step in the right direction." |
| The commission also said that some staff had little idea of how to spot money laundering - or, in some cases, even what it was. | The commission also said that some staff had little idea of how to spot money laundering - or, in some cases, even what it was. |
| All companies should ensure staff are trained in the law, and they should all carry out risk assessments - such as monitoring and risk profiling of customers - it said. | All companies should ensure staff are trained in the law, and they should all carry out risk assessments - such as monitoring and risk profiling of customers - it said. |
| The commission's chief executive Sarah Harrison said the organisation was taking action to make the market "fairer and safer". | The commission's chief executive Sarah Harrison said the organisation was taking action to make the market "fairer and safer". |
| She added: "It is vital that the gambling industry takes its duty to protect consumers and keep crime out of gambling." | She added: "It is vital that the gambling industry takes its duty to protect consumers and keep crime out of gambling." |