Summary
- The UK Gambling Commission has taken action against the Wyke Gaming & Amusement Center.
- The regulator suspended the adult gaming center's license because the venue did not participate in a self-exclusion program.
- The Commission has the power to impose fines, as well as to suspend or revoke licenses.
The United Kingdom's Gambling Commission (UKGC) has announced that it has taken enforcement action against a gambling operator for failing to implement a multi-operator self-exclusion scheme.
Bradford-based adult gaming center's license was suspended
The recent decision by the gambling regulatory authority has significant implications for Wyke Gaming & Amusement Center, an adult gaming establishment located in Hanover Square, Wyke, Bradford. Last week, the Gambling Commission announced the immediate suspension of the operator's license. The Commission pointed out that Wyke Gaming & Amusement Center failed to participate in a self-exclusion program, which is designed to help individuals struggling with gambling issues by enabling them to self-exclude from multiple adult gaming centers. The operator failed to join a multi-operator self-exclusion scheme—an initiative that allows individuals who are experiencing difficulties with gambling to self-exclude from one or more adult gaming centers in their vicinity, according to the Commission's announcement. Additionally, the UK Gambling Commission noted: The operator also did not have arrangements in place to allow customers to refer any disputes to an alternative dispute resolution entity. Apart from these issues, the operator did not comply with specific sections of the Gambling Act. The Commission identified that Wyke Gaming & Amusement Center violated section 172(1) of the Gambling Act, which stipulates that Category B gaming machines must constitute no more than 20 percent of the total number of gaming machines available on the premises.
The Gambling Commission can enforce a range of penalties and sanctions
The regulator stated that the license suspension will remain in place until the operator complies with the established regulations. Such measures are not uncommon for gambling firms. In addition to suspending licenses, the Commission has the authority to impose fines, revoke licenses, or impose additional conditions on licenses. Recently, the Commission's Executive Director, Tim Miller, discussed the ongoing successful collaboration between the regulator and the Bingo Association.
