Source · Select Committees · Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Recommendation 17
17
Deferred
Paragraph: 97
Ensure customers can continue using cash payments on electronic gaming machines after cashless introduction.
Recommendation
We support the introduction of cashless payments for electronic gaming machines, provided they are subject to an equivalent level of friction to cash payments. We recommend that customers who prefer to pay on electronic gaming machines using cash should continue to be able to do so on all machines following any introduction of cashless payments.
Government Response Summary
The government welcomed the principle of financial risk checks and committed to a proportionate system, stating the Gambling Commission will publish its consultation response and pilot enhanced risk assessments. It did not directly address the recommendation regarding cashless payments on gaming machines or the continuation of cash options.
Paragraph Reference:
97
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
17. We welcome the Committee’s support of the principle of financial risk checks that are minimally intrusive and with appropriate data protection controls built in. We and the Gambling Commission are committed to a proportionate, frictionless system of financial risk checks, to protect those at risk of harm without over-regulating. This careful targeting of interventions has been a guiding principle during the development of the proposed financial risk checks. We are seeking to protect those at the greatest risk of devastating and life-changing financial losses, and there is a clear need for specific requirements on online operators to prevent substantial unchecked spend. We recognise that this needs to be proportionate and we expect the Gambling Commission to publish its consultation response following its summer 2023 consultation in due course detailing how this will be achieved, including a commitment to undertaking a pilot for enhanced risk assessments.