Commission promises 'robust' action

In the latest move in what appears to be a growing clampdown by regulators on the gambling industry, the Gambling Commission has said it intends to make sure operators put "the customer first" as it unveiled a new enforcement strategy.

The key changes to the strategy, which follow a four-month consultation that concluded in April, include increased financial penalties for breaches, especially in cases of "systemic and repeated failings", and putting the serious sanction of a licence review on the same footing as other regulatory measures.

Commission chief executive Sarah Harrison said: "We'll use the full range of enforcement powers to ensure operators put customers first and raise standards. The industry can be assured we'll use our powers in a targeted way, and consumers and the public can be assured we'll take robust and effective action when gambling companies don't meet their obligations."