The Campaign for Fairer Gambling has raised some questions related to the effectiveness of the Multi-Operator Self-Exclusion Scheme (MOSES) that has been used by local bookmakers.
The much-promoted Multi-Operator Self-Exclusion Scheme which was introduced a year and a half ago in the UK gambling industry, has drawn the attention of local regulatory authorities after the MOSES has been described as inefficient following a reporter investigation. The results of the investigation raised some questions related to customer protection from gambling-related harm, as well as to the efficiency of the “self-exclusion” option.
Previously, there was not a multi-operator self-exclusion option available, which means that a player would have to reach each operator separately in case they wanted to self-exclude from the area’s betting shops. The country’s gambling regulatory authority, however, criticised the process, saying it was too time-taking and insisted that a multi-operator self-exclusion scheme needs to be presented in order for customers to be given the opportunity to ban themselves from all betting shops in the area.
The multi-operator self-exclusion offers a much simpler self-ban process, which unfortunately, turned out to be inefficient.
Currently, a large number of betting shops already have over 50 or even 100 self-excluded customers mostly because of addictions to fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs). However, the multi-operator self-exclusion scheme relies mostly on the staff of betting shops, but the truth is that they are not able to memorise all names and faces of self-excluded customers. This is why it was no surprise that the undercover reported who investigated the efficiency of the MOSES found that the Scheme does not actually work.
BBC Reporter Investigates MOSES Efficiency Under Cover
As we have earlier reported, the BBC reporter Rob Cave tested the scheme in Grimsby, where he managed to place a bet in a total of 19 out of 21 betting shops he banned himself from. The betting shops staff even tried to make his betting experience more comfortable rather than ask him to leave.
The investigation also showed that customers who usually choose to take advantage of the multi-operator self-exclusion scheme are gambling addicts who are trying to deal with the negative consequences of compulsive gambling. As a matter of fact, the local gambling legislation, and more specifically the Gambling Act was aimed at preventing the possible harm that could be inflicted to players in relation to their gambling habits.
The UK Gambling Commission is fully aware of the importance of MOSES’ role in the industry, especially at a time when problem gambling is constantly increasing. The Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the country’s gambling regulatory body has been working to tackle gambling addictions and reduce the negative consequences problem gambling could have on local customers. At the end of October, local authorities revealed that more serious measures are to be taken in terms of controversial fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) which would probably end up with a reduction of the maximum stakes allowed at the machines.
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