The Gambling Commission (GC) has levied a £184,500 penalty against tombola over three breaches of the social responsibility code provision (SRCP).
The regulator stated that following an investigation, which was conducted outside of licence review, into a key event submission by the bingo operator, the issues were established.
The breaches related to direct electronic consent and self-exclusion requirements as detailed in the SRCP in the Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP).
Flutter Entertainment-owned tombola breached SCRP 5.1.11, which states that consumers must not be contacted via direct electronic marketing “without their informed and specific consent”.
The code also requires operators give consumers the opportunity to withdraw consent, and licensees should action those requests “as soon as practicable”.
The GC did not state which point of SRCP 5.1.11 tombola had breached.
The GC added the Sunderland-based business breached two paragraphs related to SRCP 3.5.3 concerning self-exclusion.
SRCP 3.5.3 paragraph two reads: “Licensees must, as soon as practicable, take all reasonable steps to prevent any marketing material being sent to a self-excluded customer.”
SRCP 3.5.3 paragraph six reads: “Licensees must put into effect procedures designed to ensure that an individual who has self-excluded cannot gain access to gambling.”
Again, the GC did not provide specific details around tombola’s breaches beyond which sections of the SRCP the operator failed to adhere to.
In turn, the GC has decided to impose a financial penalty of £184,500 on the operator.
The regulator did note that the failings were of an “isolated manner which did not affect the entirety of the licensee’s controls”.
The GC also highlighted the “immediate remedial action” taken by tombola to address the issues, and that the operator had co-operated with the GC throughout the investigation.
EGR understands the issues were self-reported by tombola last year. The issues are understood to be as a result of technical failures and a fault in the operator’s marketing mechanic.
A tombola spokesperson said: “We are incredibly proud of our record on safer gambling and the high standards we set ourselves, and we are disappointed to have fallen short on this occasion.
“We notified the Gambling Commission as soon as we discovered these issues and rectified the problem.”
The GC has also handed down two penalties to evoke for its 888 and William Hill brands over SRCP breaches.
The post Tombola hit with £184,500 penalty by the Gambling Commission first appeared on EGR Intel.
Flutter Entertainment-owned brand found to have breached rules around marketing and self-exclusion, with operator taking “immediate remedial action” to remedy shortcomings
The post Tombola hit with £184,500 penalty by the Gambling Commission first appeared on EGR Intel.