The Gambling Commission has fined Holland Park Leisure £150,000 after finding that the company failed to meet self-exclusion requirements at its adult gaming centres in Leicester city centre. The operator was found to have breached Social Responsibility Code Provision 3.5.6, the rule that requires non-remote gambling businesses in the arcade, betting, bingo and casino sectors to take part in a recognised multi-operator self-exclusion scheme.
In its regulatory action decision, dated 31 July, the Commission said the penalty was imposed under section 121(1) of the Act. It also ordered Holland Park Leisure to commission an independent third-party audit covering its self-exclusion and responsible-gambling controls, including policies, procedures, staff training and the way those safeguards are put into practice.
The Commission’s own guidance says self-exclusion is meant for people who recognise that gambling is harmful to them and want support to stop. The multi-operator scheme allows a person to make one request to exclude themselves from the same type of land-based gambling in their area, and gambling businesses are also required to have their own self-exclusion arrangements in place.
The regulator said a significant aggravating factor was that its officials had previously advised the licensee about the non-compliance, but no remedial action was taken at the time. It also found that Holland Park Leisure gave misleading information during the inquiry.
Once the licence review began, the company took remedial action to ensure future compliance. The case leaves the Commission’s view in little doubt: participation in a recognised self-exclusion scheme is not optional, but a licence condition intended to protect vulnerable customers from harm.
