Half of adult gaming centres and betting shops "fail age test purchases"
The latest round of test purchasing carried out by local authorities and the Gambling Commission found that half of adult gaming centres and betting shops (20 out of 40) allowed a test purchaser under the age of 18 to play on a gaming machine and leave the premises without being challenged to prove their age.
According to the Commission, tests have also been conducted at licensed family entertainment centres and at bingo premises that have been converted from arcades, with similar weaknesses being found.
Those licensees that did not challenge a test purchaser have since been warned by local authorities that failure to improve could lead to formal regulatory action being taken.
A number have been required to submit action plans detailing how the weaknesses in their underage gambling controls will be remedied.
The Commission outlined some of the steps being taken by operators:
- Improved training schemes for their employees;
- The employment of third-parties to conduct quarterly test purchases of their premises;
- The re-siting of CCTV to provide employees with better sight of customers entering the premises; or
- The introduction of physical barriers to age-restricted areas at times where they cannot be monitored.
Warnings have been issued that a failure to deliver improvements could lead to a review of the operators’ premises licence.
Common issues included staff members appearing to be unaware of the presence of the young person, “either being engaged in other duties at the time or simply not paying attention”; or staff appearing to be unwilling to challenge the tester, “either lacking confidence in making a challenge or having little regard for their responsibilities to prevent underage gambling”.
The Gambling Commission has previously stated that it will consider mandating new measures to improve the level of protection offered to children and young people.
It is consulting on a strengthening of its Licence conditions and code of practice.