Experts from the gambling and technology industries held two operator-led events focusing to make progress on creating a single industry-wide solution to help reduce gambling harm, in particular where customers have multiple online accounts.

The initiative is being supported by the Betting and Gaming Council with representatives from the Information Commissioners Office also attending to raise awareness of individual rights and to discuss issues around privacy.

Neil McArthur, chief executive of the Gambling Commission said: “We recognise that keeping a customer safe where operators currently only have a partial view of a customer’s behaviour is a challenge. That is why we are bringing together experts from outside and within the gambling industry to explore how technology could create a single customer view, as it has the potential to significantly improve customer protection. 

“I’m really looking forward to seeing what is possible. We are constantly looking for opportunities to reduce gambling-related harm and there is always more to be done.

“Using technology to facilitate a single view of consumer activity is one of a range of actions we are pursuing to make gambling safer.”

The Gambling Commission is currently pushing the industry to make progress in raising standards and reducing harm in areas such as ethical game design, the use of advertising technology, and incentives for high value customers.

The Commission has set tight deadlines and expects to see progress by the end of March this year.