The UK Government is consulting on a proposed ban that would prevent unlicensed gambling companies from sponsoring UK sports teams, a move designed to protect consumers from unregulated operators.

The ministers are deeply concerned about the dangers posed by the unlicensed gambling market, which has been linked to organised crime. Unlicensed operators do not adhere to laws and guidelines designed to protect customers, including mandatory financial vulnerability checks, responsible advertising and fair terms. They often lack data protections, leaving customers vulnerable to fraud and identity theft.

The government’s new consultation on sports sponsorship, to be launched this Spring, will mitigate the risks associated with the illegal market, and help eliminate unfair competition for properly regulated firms.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: “When placing a bet on the big match, fans deserve to know the sites they’re using are properly regulated, with the right protections in place.

“It’s not right that unlicensed gambling operators can sponsor some of our biggest football clubs, raising their profile and potentially drawing fans towards sites that don’t meet our regulatory standards.”

The new measures would mean gambling companies without a UK licence would be restricted from entering into any sponsorship arrangements with sports clubs, including in the Premier League, where a number of clubs currently carry sponsorship from operators not licensed in Great Britain.

Gambling Minister Baroness Twycross said: “We know the real harm that unregulated gambling can cause, exploiting vulnerable people and leaving consumers without the protections they deserve.

“This consultation, alongside the work of our Illegal Gambling Taskforce, shows how seriously this government is taking the issue. We will not hesitate to act where we see people being put at risk.”

This consultation forms part of the government’s separate, wider work to address concerns around gambling. Last month, the government launched an Illegal Gambling Taskforce, bringing together major companies including Google, Mastercard, TikTok and Visa alongside law enforcement and gambling bodies to tackle illegal gambling.

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Mindway AI, a leader in player protection solutions, has announced the attainment of SOC 2 Type 2 certification, further bolstering its commitment to data security and privacy. Combined with its existing ISO 27001 certification, Mindway AI now offers an exceptional security framework, committed to safeguarding client information.

ISO 27001 certification has previously ensured that Mindway AI maintains a robust, continuously improving framework for managing information security risks. Now, with the addition of the SOC 2 certification, Mindway AI not only meets but exceeds industry standards for security, availability and confidentiality. Developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), SOC 2 is an esteemed standard, particularly valued by U.S. and enterprise clients, making it a critical component in procurement processes.

“Achieving SOC 2 Type 2 certification alongside ISO 27001 significantly strengthens our security posture. SOC 2 Type 2 provides independent and ongoing verification of our operations, particularly in North America, assuring clients that their data is managed with the highest care and security standards globally. This new certification is another step forward of many that our business will take to continuously improve standards in player protection solutions,” said Rasmus Kjaergaard, CEO at Mindway AI.

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Gambling seems to be becoming increasingly accepted in the society. A quarter of Dutch people (24%) indicate that people in their social circle consider gambling normal behaviour. Strikingly, men consider gambling normal more often than women: 32% (men) versus 16% (women). This normalisation leads to more people gambling, and it makes it more difficult for people who may not have their gambling behaviour under control to discuss it. This is evident from research conducted by the Netherlands Gambling Authority for the new OpenOverGokken platform among 1000 Dutch people.

Gambling as a social norm

Social environment plays a clear role in how the Dutch view gambling. For example, 43% say they would gamble less if no one around them did. However, 22% of respondents have people in their social circle who gamble.

When people talk about gambling, they primarily talk about success and winning. For example, one in five Dutch people (18%) say they regularly hear that gambling is a convenient way to make money quickly. This romanticisation of gambling is problematic because, on the other hand, there’s a belief that those who have gambling problems are to blame. For example, three-quarters of Dutch people (75%) see gambling problems as the result of making bad decisions.

Problems often remain invisible

For some Dutch people, gambling is not without consequences: 11% indicate that gambling has had a direct impact on work, studies, relationships or sleep. At the same time, gambling problems are not always recognised. For example, 76% of Dutch people estimate that you can’t see a gambling addiction in someone. This can contribute to problems going unnoticed for longer and piling up. Moreover, talking about gambling problems is taboo: almost three in ten respondents (29%) indicate that they wouldn’t dare ask for help if they themselves were addicted to gambling. Over a third of Dutch people (34%) find it difficult to confront someone about their gambling behaviour.

Michel Groothuizen, chairman of the Netherlands Gambling Authority, said: “Gambling problems rarely develop overnight and often remain under the radar for a long time. This is partly because gambling is often seen as normal behavior in the community. This can make it difficult to recognize when gambling becomes problematic, let alone to discuss it. As our previous research also showed, there is still a persistent taboo surrounding talking about gambling and gambling problems. As a result, people who experience gambling problems themselves often hesitate to ask for help. A first step can be to talk about it with someone you trust, such as a partner, family member, or friend. For those who feel that step is too daunting, it’s also possible to first seek information online in a relaxed atmosphere. The OpenOverGokken.nl platform offers independent information and helps people find appropriate support. As a regulator, we believe it’s our social responsibility to ensure that reliable information and support are accessible to everyone, and that no one has to face this alone.”

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