Isle of Man Considers Policy Changes After Responsible Gambling Survey
The Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC) is contemplating revisions to its responsible gambling policies in response to a recent survey assessing licensees’ measures from January 1 to December 31, 2023.
Licensees Report Satisfaction with Responsible Gambling Measures
Out of 35 registered online gambling licensees, 33 participated in the GSC’s survey. The majority expressed contentment with the effectiveness of their responsible gambling strategies. While 73 percent reported receiving complaints related to responsible gambling, these were primarily concerning limits, exclusions, or requests for affordability documentation.
The survey also highlighted that licensees blocked 2,972 attempts by underage individuals to access gambling services during the period. Most incidents were intercepted through age consent prompts requiring users to confirm their date of birth before proceeding. Notably, 79 percent of licensees indicated they had no instances of minors registering for their services.
Limited Use of Responsible Gambling Tools Among Customers
Despite all operators offering responsible gambling tools—as mandated by Isle of Man regulations requiring at least one form of elective control—only 2.5 percent of customers utilized these features. Options included elective deposit limits, spending limits, and loss limits. While 67,907 customers engaged with these tools, the actual figure may be higher since one-third of respondents could not provide detailed usage data.
The survey also raised concerns about the timeliness of processing self-exclusion requests. By the end of December 2023, 21,999 players—representing 0.8 percent of the customer base—had opted for self-exclusion. While most requests were actioned immediately, some took over 12 hours to implement, depending on the method used to submit the request.
GSC Contemplates Policy Revisions
In light of the survey findings, the GSC is considering updates to its responsible gambling policies. The commission stated: “The GSC is committed to ensuring that the interventions that are specified in regulations are evidence-led and intends to use the results of the survey to inform future legislative changes. As requirements evolve with emerging changes, it is crucial that licensees fully understand their responsibilities to ensure compliance at the earliest opportunity.”
To achieve this, the GSC plans to engage with licensees, consumers, and other stakeholders to clarify regulatory responsibilities and enhance understanding of compliance requirements.