Table of Contents
Before registering with a particular betting site, one of the first things you need to consider is how the company is regulated. Regulation ensures that the site adheres to the laws of the country in which the site is active. The main regulatory body for any betting site hoping to operate in the United Kingdom is the UK Gambling Commission [UKGC]. As such, when you’re deciding upon which site to use to place your bets, a good starting point is to research whether or not they’re registered with the UKGC and you can usually find this information on the homepage of their website. Let’s take a look at why UKGC sites are safer than others.
UKGC sites must adhere to strict gambling legislation.
Since the passing of the Gambling Act in 2005, online and brick-and-mortar gambling sites have been subject to a range of strict measures designed to regulate how people are permitted to gamble. The UKGC is responsible for controlling and monitoring gambling sites in the UK, of which there are more than 50 betting sites alone, and ensuring that they’re carrying out their operations in line with the strict government legislation. So naturally, this prohibits a range of unscrupulous practices that gambling companies may have gotten away with otherwise, and protects players with a range of Responsible Gambling tools.
The application for a UKGC license is rigorous.
As a not-for-profit organisation, the UKGC exists to serve the people of the United Kingdom who wish to gamble. As such, when screening new license applicants, they put companies through a rigorous application process. They want to see that the company has a transparent ownership structure and has the appropriate finances in place to pay out winnings. The UKGC doesn’t just accept applications from anyone, and you can be sure that if a site is licensed with the commission, that they have been thoroughly vetted and approved.
The UKGC acts as a safety net if things go wrong.
Gamblers tend to encounter issues with even the most trustworthy names in betting from time to time. These can be issues with pay-outs or odds, and if the site isn’t regulated, the bookie’s decision is final. However, suppose a customer has an unresolved problem with a UKGC bookmaker. In that case, they can take their grievance directly to the commission, who will assist in mitigating the issue until a fair resolution is passed. This safety net is reassuring and enables you to gamble with peace of mind.
Fair gaming is assured.
With the increasing popularity of virtual sports and online casino games, the UKGC ensures that gamblers are exposed to a fair online gaming experience. Most online casinos use random number generators [RNGs] to produce the outcomes of their virtual games. The primary purpose of RNGs is to ensure that the result of a virtual game is genuinely random and hasn’t been manually programmed to favour the house. The UKGC requires gambling sites to stipulate the amount of money each game returns to players [RTP]. For instance, you might see a game that has a 96% RTP, meaning that for every £100 spent on the game, £96 is guaranteed to go back to players in the form of winnings. This ensures that the house’s profits don’t get too out of hand and players have a reasonable chance of recouping their bets.
Customer data is correctly stored.
When you sign up to a gambling site, you entrust them with a lot of your personal and financial data. The UKGC ensures that their sites manage your data in accordance with the Data Protection Act, which guarantees that your data won’t be misused or stolen while you’re gambling online. They also want to see assurances from the gambling site that they have sufficient safeguards in place to prevent cyber-attacks and won’t issue a license without proof of appropriate encryption and other advanced security measures.
Final thoughts.
UKGC licensed sites are without a doubt safer than those that are not registered or licensed with the commission. While some sites carry licenses from other jurisdictions, it’s best practice to obtain a permit to operate in the territory in which your services are offered. As such, if you’re looking for a new site to try out from the UK, it’s a good idea to check that they’re licensed with the commission before you submit any of your data or make any financial transactions. UKGC sites are vetted, trustworthy, and are held to account should anything go wrong.