Gambling is primarily entertainment, not a way to make money. However, not all players realize this. That is why CRGL continues to implement initiatives aimed at reducing the negative impact of gambling on players. And, as practice shows, the most effective in this matter are not media companies and talks about the importance of fighting gambling addiction, but applied technical solutions that allow controlling player access both directly to gambling halls and platforms and to funds. The latest innovation of CRGL concerns the access of players to loans.
Recently, amidst the intensification of the fight against gambling addiction, a lot of initiatives have been introduced to protect players from the negative consequences of gambling. Some of them, such as 9256-d, are highly controversial and lead to completely opposite results. Others give hope that some state regulators understand the essence of the fight against gambling addiction correctly, and not vice versa - they create favorable conditions for its spread by simplifying the work of illegal players. Such positive innovations include the latest initiative of the CRGL to restrict access to credit funds for players included in the Register of persons with restricted access to gambling facilities.
Back in November 2023, the Law of Ukraine No. 3498-IX "On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on Improving State Regulation of Financial Services Markets" was adopted, which amended, inter alia, the Law of Ukraine "On Consumer Lending". According to these innovations, a mechanism was to be developed to prohibit the conclusion of consumer loan agreements with persons included in the Register who are known to use credit funds for betting. Lenders can obtain this information free of charge from credit bureaus.
In order for this mechanism to work, it was necessary to create a regulatory and technical framework for the transfer of information from the Register to credit bureaus. CRGL has created the appropriate conditions, and as of July 25 this year, loaans history bureaus have been able to access the Register. This is how it works.
1. Credit bureaus enter into an agreement on information interaction with the CRGL, which, in particular, provides for access to the Register of Persons with Restricted Access to Gambling.
2. Before making a decision to grant consumer a loan, a credit institution is obliged to request information from the relevant credit bureau about the person who has applied for the loan.
3. If, upon request, the credit institution receives information that the Register contains information that the person applying for a loan uses credit funds for gambling, such a loan shall not be issued. If there is no such information, as well as no other restrictions for issuing a loan to such a person, the credit institution has the right to issue it.
This is a really simple and effective initiative that demonstrates that at least some government agencies involved in gambling regulation are capable of developing systematic solutions to protect players from gambling addiction. As this example shows, instead of public statements about a complete ban on gambling advertising or other restrictions on legal gambling, it is possible to find effective technical solutions for a specific target audience instead of harming the entire industry due to their own unclear political ambitions. I really hope that there will be more such solutions and that the small percentage of Ukrainian players addicted to gambling will continue to decrease.
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