- Joined
- May 22, 2012
From May 1 2018 casinos will not be able to provide UK players any slots with repesentations of alcohol in the graphics or game artwork. This is due to research suggesting a significant proportion of problem and irresponsible gambling occurs when players are under the influence of alcohol. Further evidence from Australia seems to compound that this is indeed the case and the UKGC feels compelled to head off this latest negative piece of news regarding the online gaming industry.
The UKGC's head of Social Responsibility, Sam Booker commented:
"We are seeing casino and slot developers creating an ever-increasing amount of games featuring pints of Guinness and lager along with both glasses and bottles of wine and champagne and don't feel that this encourages responsible usage of their product. Both this fact and ongoing research have led us to action a ban which we believe to be in the wider interests of the general public."
Meanwhile some casino providers have reacted with either fury or ridicule to what they perceive to be another attack on their industry:
Padraig Mead, PR Manager for Paddy Power said "This is utterly ridiculous! Two of life's great pleasures, beer and gambling, must now be ringfenced separately. It makes me wonder what's to come next from these meddling commissions - banning gambling after sex? Banning sex after drinking? It's nannyism gone mad."
Gambling addiction organizations were far more welcoming however:
"It's quite appropriate to take these measures given our experiences of clients who have related to us stories of betting excessively while under the influence of alcohol"
stated Aref Salmanazar, spokesman for Gamcare UK.
So make the most of your Wild Champagne feature while it lasts peeps!
The UKGC's head of Social Responsibility, Sam Booker commented:
"We are seeing casino and slot developers creating an ever-increasing amount of games featuring pints of Guinness and lager along with both glasses and bottles of wine and champagne and don't feel that this encourages responsible usage of their product. Both this fact and ongoing research have led us to action a ban which we believe to be in the wider interests of the general public."
Meanwhile some casino providers have reacted with either fury or ridicule to what they perceive to be another attack on their industry:
Padraig Mead, PR Manager for Paddy Power said "This is utterly ridiculous! Two of life's great pleasures, beer and gambling, must now be ringfenced separately. It makes me wonder what's to come next from these meddling commissions - banning gambling after sex? Banning sex after drinking? It's nannyism gone mad."
Gambling addiction organizations were far more welcoming however:
"It's quite appropriate to take these measures given our experiences of clients who have related to us stories of betting excessively while under the influence of alcohol"
stated Aref Salmanazar, spokesman for Gamcare UK.
So make the most of your Wild Champagne feature while it lasts peeps!