The Remote Gambling Association (RGA) announced today that it has retained the services of KPMG to (i) undertake a scoping study which will help to shape the development of NOSES; and (ii) to support and advise the RGA during the implementation process.

In February this year the Gambling Commission wrote to all remote gambling licence holders to inform them that it had decided that the industry should now take forward the project to design, introduce and run a national online self-exclusion system. The aim of the project is to provide consumers with a single process whereby they can self-exclude themselves from all online gambling operators that are licensed by the Gambling Commission. The website will also set out other measures that are available to help people to manage their gambling and will signpost specialist advice and support services for those who might benefit from them.

Clive Hawkswood, Chief Executive of the RGA commented that: ‘Self-exclusion can be a vitally important tool, especially for problem gamblers or those who are at risk of developing problems. Self-exclusions have long been offered on a company basis, but in terms of consumer protection it will be a huge step forward to have a single national scheme of the type envisaged by government and the Gambling Commission.

Establishing a cross industry system of this kind raises a host of complex legal, technical, and governance issues. We are therefore delighted to have retained KPMG to help us successfully navigate our way through all of these details with a view to having everything in place before the end of 2017.’