Lessons Learned Checklist - to make gambling safer and free of minors.

To build a Lessons Learned Checklist I have tapped not only my own experiences but also that of an array of other problem gamblers, thinkers, and relevant interested organizations and bodies.

The objective of providing the below list is to encourage further debate and proposals for change to the regulatory framework within which the gambling industry and its financial partners operate to ensure that gambling is as safe and transparent a business as possible. This includes doing everything possible to help exclude problem gambling and minors from the industry. 

Proposed future provisions to the Gambling Act 2005[1]:

• Propose an amendment to the Gambling Act 2005 to increase the legal minimum age for all forms of gambling to 18 years of age. 
• Propose an amendment to the Gambling Act 2005 to legislate that banks decline credit/charge card transactions for gambling transactions, currently Merchant Category Code (MCC) 7995. 
• Propose an amendment to the Gambling Act 2005 to introduce a gambling ombudsman along the same lines as financial ombudsman. 
•  Propose an amendment to the Gambling Act 2005 to introduce an upfront ‘know your customer’ check requirement for remote gambling operators. (e.g. mobile, online casino) As a suggested minimum to include identity, age, and legitimate funding source check requirements. (including for each additional card presented for payment) 
• Propose an amendment to the Gambling Act 2005 to regulate and tax casinos at point of access. 
• Propose an amendment to the Gambling Act 2005 to require banks to introduce an on demand client self-exclusion form for the blocking of debit/prepaid card transactions to Merchant Code (MCC) 7995.
• Propose an amendment to the Gambling Act 2005 to require that online casinos and other gambling operators that do business in a non-customer present environment fully process withdrawals requested by the customer and do not allow withdrawals to be reversed and used for further play. This is the so called ‘reversal of withdrawal’ option offered by many online casinos where funds are held in pended state for a period of time.
• Propose an amendment to the Gambling Act 2005 to increase the minimum time elapsed between plays on all forms of electronic gambling. (E.g. FOBTs, remote casino games).   
•  Propose an amendment to the Gambling Act 2005 that prohibits bonus promotions from having a greater than x1 minimum wagering restrictions before withdrawal.
• Propose an amendment to the Gambling Act 2005 that requires cigarette style health warnings for gambling. 
•  Propose that the government considers provisions within the Gambling Act 2005 for the set-up of a national gambling self-exclusion register subject to strict data controls.

 Additional social provisions: 

• Propose that the government considers increasing the NHS provision of specialist gambling treatment funded via additional social tax levy on gambling industry. 
•  More focus as part of treatment on provision of access to organizations that can assist in helping with debt management, family, and social rehabilitation.

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[1]    http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/19/section/43