Gambling Commission Requires licensed bookies to Fund Self-exclusion Scheme

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) will require online gambling operators to fund a multi-million pound, nationwide self-exclusion scheme.

According to a draft framework published by the regulator last week, the anticipated cost of creating such scheme titled  as Central Hub for Online Operator Self Exclusion (CHOOSE) would be £2m, with an ongoing running costs of approximately £1m annually.

“The costs will need to be funded in full by the industry, being both the costs of the scheme itself plus any additional running costs to administer it,” UKGC said. “A mechanism will need to be created so that all operators who participate contribute towards the costs in an equitable way.”

The commission announced its intention to create a scheme last year where customers could exclude themselves from all British licensed operators through one site, which is expected to be available in 2017.