Reports in the UK media regarding problem gambling and the Gambling Prevalence survey have prompted comments from the Alderney Gambling Control Commission. The AGCC has also suggested that licensees contribute significantly to responsible gambling initiatives.

The Commission was particularly concerned about flawed newspaper reports that despite being white-listed by UK authorities, Alderney does not meet the same protection needs to UK players taking part in bingo, casino, poker and sports betting as those based in the UK regulated by the UK Gambling Commission.

Here at Bingosupermarket were believe that consumers would be better protected if online gambling sites serving UK customers were regulated by both authorities. There are a number of online bingo sites that would have to no doubt review their operating procedures if this was the case. We have always maintained that the marketing strategies and terms and conditions of a number of sites are from open and morally fair.

Andre Wilsenach, the AGCC's chief executive, argues that Alderney licensees contribute significantly to tackling problem gambling, including through regularly funding research in the area.

“At the moment we are putting in funds at a rate in excess of £1 million per annum. Our licensees are multinational, and are able to propose a charity or research vehicle relevant to their player base; but currently the majority of the money goes to the UK’s GREaT Foundation.

“This is merely one of the steps Alderney takes to deal with the issue of problem gambling. Strong player identification requirements, obligatory self-exclusion systems and staff and systems able to identify problem gambling characteristics in player behaviour are all basic requirements for an Alderney licensee, he argued

“The industry would be much stronger if like-minded regulators co-operated on common standards to raise the level of protection for the young and vulnerable and to exclude those operators and jurisdictions that are not able to comply with such standards. We believe that the UK’s white-list approach is an excellent method of erecting such a fence.”

Wilsenach suggests that the Gambling Prevalence study data should be analysed by experts, but he did comment that the small increase in the incidence of problem gambling since the last survey in 2007 as 'at the margins of statistical significance'.

He adds that future UK policy should aim to protect those taking part in online gambling from offshore operators where legislation is less effective.