The Gambling Commission of the United Kingdom has stated its standpoint, concerning the procedures of rebuying products and services on online poker websites. The Commission had to discuss this issue after the official complaint, made by professional poker players. It seems like their discontent has led to a positive outcome and the authorities reconsidered the new rules, the players were unhappy with.
Actually, according to the initial plan, the auto rebuy options, offered by UK-based poker rooms, were supposed to be removed due to the newly imposed rules, issued by The Remote Gambling and Software Technical Standards. The removal of these facilities would make the poker games less enjoyable and the players would be responsible for manually topping up their cash game tables.
The Commission took urgent measures towards tackling this delicate matter and the attempts of the professional players for changing the rules were successful. In a document, published by the authorities, is said that RTS 14 is a “guideline”, rather than a “mandatory” element.
According to the regulations, issued by the Commission, a gambling product, that is aimed at deliberately making a customer play when they don’t want to, is strictly prohibited. The same applies to the products and occasions when the player is urged to increase their stack or bet a sum of money, higher than the initial amount. The customer has to decide whether to purchase more chips or not. In other words, auto rebuy shall not be available.
However, the revised regulations of RTS.14 clearly state that the gaming providers have two options. They might either keep the rebuy facilities or find another alternative for protecting their players. Proven providers as PokerStars, Sky Poker and Full Tilt have already opted for the second method.
It is also said in the document that the utmost goal of the newly implemented licenses is ensuring that the players are protected while taking part in gambling activities and the gaming provider itself is in charge of keeping a close eye on the games, report violations and take appropriate actions in an event of a disproportionate gambling activity.
The authorities have also expressed their hopes for reconsidering the RTS regulations again in the foreseeable future and establishing, for instance, a financial limit for auto rebuy activities.
For the time being, the gaming providers who have valid licences, compatible to the requirements, stated in RTS 14, have to obey the rules, mentioned above and ensure the protection measures are effective enough and the players would not be exposed to any negative impact.
PokerStars, Sky Poker and Full Tilt have no claims towards the decision taken and their representatives announced that they will find the best way for obeying the rules, implemented in RTS 14.
Richard Richardson, one of the most fierce opponents of the removal of the auto rebuy options, was the first to sign a petition and send it to the UK regulators. Later on, he was one of the players who were excited to hear the good news.
