FAQs

No. GamCare is a charity and the UK’s leading provider of free information, advice and support for anyone affected by problem gambling. We do not regulate the gambling industry and are therefore are not able to intervene in complaints regarding businesses. Please seek advice from the Gambling Commission if you would like to make a complaint about a gambling business.

Yes. If you would like to provide content on the topic of safer gambling we may be able to publish this. Please note that GamCare is a charity and does does not offer paid posts, advertising space or advertorials. All content is subject to review before we agree to publish. Please get in touch via our online form.

The scheme is run by GamCare. We are a charity and the UK’s leading provider of free information, advice and support for anyone affected by problem gambling. Part of our goal is to work with the gambling industry to support customers and prevent people from experiencing gambling-related harm.

The Standard looks at how a gambling business has integrated safer gambling within its organisational culture and how this culture flows throughout the organisation. One business may operate several brands and websites and this is reflected in our Assured businesses page.  We list businesses by brand and website so that customers can easily identify whether the business they’re gambling with meets high standards in safer gambling. However, please note that the scope of each accreditation is limited to the business’s head office and a sample of their venues, brands and websites.

Assurance is stepped, giving businesses a clear road map for improvement. Businesses can be awarded from Base Level of the Standard up to Advanced Level 3 depending on the degree to which their approach to safer gambling goes beyond regulatory requirements. The assessment looks at five different areas. Read about the levels.

Contact us to discuss a summary of the process.

Listings on the assured businesses page can be read as follows:

Business name: Name of the business, group or company.

Level: This field states the level that the business has been awarded. Businesses can be awarded from Base Level of the Standard up to Advanced Level 3 depending on the degree to which their approach to safer gambling goes beyond regulatory requirements.

Brands: This field states all trading names operated by the business that were covered within the scope of the assessment. This field is only applicable to businesses with land-based accreditation.

Websites: All websites operated by the business that were covered within the scope of assessment. This field is only applicable to businesses with online accreditation.

Accreditation period: This field lists the time frame of accreditation. Businesses can decide to be assessed for their online operations, land-based operations or both, which is why there are two sets of accreditation dates. Accreditation is valid for two years.

Sector: This field shows the different types of gambling services the business offers.

Scope: This field specifies any limitations to the assessment.

GamCare works with businesses who are unable to meet the Standard on the first attempt. These businesses will have up to one year to make changes, after which time they will need to re-apply for the Standard.

Yes, we welcome feedback on the Standard criteria from members of the public, GamCare service users and industry. We update the Standard every year to take into account developments in safer gambling best practice. Complete our feedback form.

Fees are quoted on an individual basis and vary depending on the length and nature of the assessment. If you would like to get a quote, register your interest and we’ll be in touch.

No, the Safer Gambling Standard replaced GamCare Certification as the assurance offered by GamCare at the end of 2018. A key addition of the Safer Gambling Standard scheme was levels of assurance so that businesses could identify how they compare to others in the area of safer gambling.

The Standard focuses on gambling businesses licensed by the Gambling Commission. The Gambling Commission, sometimes referred to as the UK Gambling Commission, is an executive non-departmental public body of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for regulating gambling and supervising gaming law in Great Britain (excluding Northern Ireland). Its remit covers arcades, betting, bingo, casinos, slot machines and lotteries, as well as remote gambling, but not spread betting.

The Gambling Commission jurisdiction under the Gambling Act 2005 as amended by the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act 2014 covers Great Britain: England, Scotland and Wales. However, the Commission’s jurisdiction is broader where remote gambling is concerned and also covers those supplying gambling from remote gambling equipment situated in Great Britain to those outside of Great Britain, as well as remote (online) operators contracting with consumers in Great Britain.

Notwithstanding this we do work constructively with businesses in other jurisdictions and would encourage you to get in touch if you’d like to find out more.

Not eligible for the Standard but want to access GamCare’s services? We deliver social responsibility training to businesses abroad and within the UK. See our services.

No. The Safer Gambling Standard assurance scheme is tailored towards business-to-consumer (B2C) gambling businesses. There is also currently a business-to-business (B2B) version in development.

Affiliates may want to consider joining the Responsible Affiliates in Gambling (RAIG), an independent body which was set up to raise standards within the sector.

No. Assessment against the Safer Gambling Standard is voluntary and demonstrates a business’s commitment to go beyond the minimum requirements set out in regulations. Gambling businesses that operate within the Great Britain must be licensed by the Gambling Commission. To find out whether a particular business is licensed, please visit the Gambling Commission website.

We offer a range of social responsibility training to meet businesses’ needs. If you’re interested in booking a training session please submit an enquiry and we’ll be in touch to discuss your requirements.

If you have one or more delegates who would like to join a session alongside other agencies, we run multi-agency sessions at our offices in London.

Yes. Any gambling business can access our training and resources, which we operate separately to the Safer Gambling Standard assurance scheme. If you work for a non-commercial business you may be eligible for free or low cost training as part of our programmes and outreach services.