Commission chief 'not prepared to tolerate' repeat offending from operators

The Gambling Commission has told operators the regulator is increasing the number of fines it is handing out because of "recidivist behaviour" and has said it will not tolerate repeat offenders.

The warning from chief executive Andrew Rhodes came in the same week it was revealed the commission had handed out a record £32.1 million in fines or regulatory settlements during 2020-21.

Rhodes, giving his first major speech since taking up the role, told the GambleAware annual conference last week that 2021 was on course to be the commission's busiest year in terms of enforcement activity, "and that's something that should concern us".