Adult gaming centre operator fined £150,000 for self-exclusion fail

Holland Park Leisure Limited, the operator of three adult gaming centres in Leicester city centre, has been fined £150,000 ($202,888) by the Gambling Commission for failing to join the mandatory multi-operator self-exclusion scheme.

On Tuesday, the Gambling Commission found that Holland Park Leisure had breached Social Responsibility Code Provision 3.5.6. This scheme, legally required across Great Britain, allows players to exclude themselves from multiple land-based gambling venues in a local area.

Holland Park Leisure was also instructed to commission an independent third-party audit assessing its policies, procedures, controls and staff training related to self-exclusion and responsible gambling.

‘Maintain effective safeguards for self-excluded customers’

The Gambling Commission’s director of enforcement and intelligence, John Pierce, emphasised the critical role of such schemes “for people who feel they are suffering gambling harm”.

“It is important that all operators fully integrate with the scheme and maintain effective safeguards for self-excluded customers,” he added.

Pierce also highlighted the mandatory requirements for operators to be “fully participating in a recognised multi-operator self-exclusion scheme”.

He concluded: “These are not optional requirements. They are fundamental licence conditions designed to protect consumers from harm, and operators that fail to meet them can expect regulatory action.”

Previous warnings 

The regulator noted that Holland Park Leisure had previously been warned about its non-compliance, but failed to take remedial action at that time. 

The company also provided misleading information during the regulator’s enquiries. 

Although some steps towards future compliance were taken once the licence review commenced, these factors were considered significant aggravators when determining the penalty.

Increasing scrutiny of adult gaming centres

Adult gaming centres, which offer category B and C gaming machines to over-18 customers, have come under enhanced regulatory oversight. 

Last week, Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced intentions to introduce a set of reforms that would require adult gaming centres to seek planning approval when opening. The reforms would also repeal the established “aim to permit” rule for betting shops and 24-hour slot machine arcades across the country. 

During the announcement, Burnham labelled adult gaming centres and betting shops as “dodgy businesses”.

Many experts have warned this decision would most likely require new legislation to amend the 2005 Gambling Act.

Speaking to iGB, Andrew Lyman, Gibraltar’s Gambling Commissioner and a former director at the UK Gambling Commission, said: “A fundamental change to an underlying principle of the act (one might say the fundamental principle) would need to be changed by primary legislation.”

Kathryn Evans

Kathryn covers bitesize breaking news with a primary focus on EMEA and US legislation. A proud North Walian, fluent Welsh speaker and lifelong Wrexham FC fan – long before Hollywood came calling.