Back in the fining line
The UK Gambling Commission has disciplined a subsidiary of Betfred Group Ltd for violating online slot games standards.
multiple slot games that failed to comply
The UKGC fined Petfre, Betfred’s Gibraltar-based arm that runs betfred.com and oddsking.com, £240,000 ($323,110). The regulator stated it had found Petfre guilty of offering multiple slot games that failed to comply with the Remote Technical Standards (RTS).
According to reports, an investigation into the slots revealed that some of the gameplay and graphics could be negatively affecting the user’s decision-making process.
UKGC Director of Enforcement John Pierce said in a Wednesday news release on the Petfre ruling: “Features that impair a consumer’s ability to make informed decisions are not appropriate and pose a clear risk.”
Losing like you’re winning
The UKGC cited an investigation that revealed some Petfre-licensed slots could confuse and mislead players, and impair their ability to make clear in-game decisions.
Game graphics seemed to celebrate losses disguised as wins. The RTS essentially bans games from celebrating any win “which is less than or equal to the total stake gambled.”
graphics could have a negative impact
The UKGC questioned the effect of congratulatory imagery on players in a losing position, noting the graphics could have a negative impact on their ability “to interpret their gameplay accurately and make informed choices.” The other RTS fail was over hosting games without displaying a player’s net position.
Stark warning
In its fine notice, the regulator said Petfre had taken “immediate action and promptly decommissioned all affected games” offered under its Oddsking and Betfred online casino portfolio.
The UKGC took Wednesday’s censure to warn Petfre of making a third violation, with a reminder it already fined the firm £2.9m ($3.9m) in 2022 for social responsibility and anti-money laundering failures.
