Reminder - Update to Remote Technical Standards effective 30 April 2016
This article was produced by Olswang LLP, which joined with CMS on 1 May 2017.
As of 30 April 2016, two changes to the Remote Gambling Software and Technical Standards (“RTS”) will come into effect. The changes relate to auto-play functionality, which will affect all operators offering remote gaming services, and time requirements and reality checks which will affect all operators offering remote gaming or remote instant win lotteries.
RTS 8 – Auto-play functionality
Previously RTS 8 required auto-play functionality to be implemented in such a way as to allow customers to control the amount gambled through selecting the stake and number of auto-play gambles (this could not exceed 25 in one batch). With the new amendments to RTS 8, remote gambling operators are now required to provide easily accessible facilities which make available the following three controls, each of which stops auto-play functionality when triggered:
- ‘loss limit’, i.e. where the player selects an option to not lose more than X from their starting balance, where X is an amount that can be selected by the player. A ‘loss’ in this context equates to accumulated auto-play bets minus accumulated auto-play wins;
- ‘single win limit’ i.e. single win greater than Y where Y is an amount that can be selected by the player; and
- ‘jackpot win’ (where applicable).
Such facilities must also require auto-play to be implemented in such a way that each time a customer chooses to use auto-play they must select the stake, the number of auto-play gambles and at least the first of the above three controls. In addition to this, the number of auto-play gambles must now not exceed 100 gambles in one batch.
RTS 13 – Time requirements and reality checks
The existing RTS 13A will remain as currently drafted but RTS 13B will introduced. Under this RTS, easily accessible facilities must be provided that make it possible for customers to set a frequency at which they will receive and see on the screen a ‘reality check’ (a display of the time elapsed since the session began) within a gaming session. The customer must acknowledge the reality check for it to be removed from the screen.
The full version of the RTS can be found here which also includes implementation guidance for these new requirements.
