iGaming Affiliation should be Regulated in the UK says RAiG

By Simon Wright, Last updated Mar 1, 2021

The independent body Responsible Affiliates in Gambling ( RAiG) which was established in May last year by the owners and operators of The Racing Post, Better Collective and Oddschecker, have this morning issued a press release announcing their support for a licensing or registration regime for affiliates working in the gambling industry.

In reaching their decision to offer their support for the licensing and regulation of iGaming affiliates, RAiG came to the rationale that “there are already precedents where the Commission has applied some form of direct licensing or authorisation to third party suppliers (for example, Gambling Software Provider licences; and the provision of approved lists of Alternative Dispute Resolution providers, and Software Testing Houses).”

Commenting on their decision, RAiG’s chairman, Clive Hawkswood who prior to joining RAiG at its inception was the Chief Executive Officer of the Remote Gambling Association, said: “The decision to support the principle of a licensing or registration system was not taken lightly and we have been assessing the pros and cons for many months.”

“This issue will achieve greater prominence as the Government’s review of the Gambling Act 2005 picks up pace and it is vital that we play a constructive role as policies evolve rather than waiting on the side-lines for measures to be imposed.

“It is appreciated that this is an issue where opinion across the sector is divided and RAiG will make clear that, as with any trade body, it can only speak on behalf of its members. Despite that, we hope everyone in the affiliate marketing world and beyond will keep an open mind about any proposals which would serve to create a safer gambling environment.”

“As with all forms of licensing and regulation, the devil is usually in the detail and the aim must be to work with all stakeholders to ensure that any provisions are proportionate and, most important of all, effective in improving safeguards for consumers.”

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