New trade association established by gambling affiliates

Gambling affiliates Racing Post and Oddschecker have recently announced that they will be joining forces with another affiliate, the Stockholm-listed Better Collective in order to create a new trade association.

What is the name of the new trade association?

The gambling affiliates have created the Responsible Affiliates in Gambling (RAIG). It has the aim of doing social good in the online casinos and gambling sector. The aim of RAIG is that it will help to promote socially responsible marketing with regards to the way gambling products are advertised.

The trade association also has the intention of providing a safer, more securing gambling environment for its customers.

Who will run the trade association?

Not only has the creation of a new trade association been revealed, but also those who will be chairing it to.  It has been announced that the former CEO of the Remote Gambling Association (RGA), Clive Hawkswood, will be the chair.

In addition, other directors of this new trade association will also include the head of commercial at Oddschecker, Guy Harding, Cian Nugent, who is the digital director at the Racing Post, as well as Karl Pugh, who is the head of business development for Better Collective.

Why has the association been created?

The chair of Responsible Affiliates in Gambling, Clive Hawkswood, has stated that the creation of such an association has been on the cards for some time. Hawkswood said there had been broad consensus among affiliates, even rivals, that a dedicated association was needed in order to focus primarily on safer gambling conditions as well as better collective social responsibility amongst gambling companies.

What are the terms and conditions of association membership?

In order to be a member of RAIG, members will need to meet certain terms and conditions in order to retain their membership.

For example, RAIG has outlined that every member will need to undergo an annual social responsibility audit, in order to ensure they are remaining compliant with current regulations in the industry.

This will include both existing statutory as well as non-statutory regulations. The audit process will include compliance with the following regulations:

• The UK Code of Broadcast Advertising (BCAP Code)
• The UK Code of non-broadcast Advertising and Direct and Promotional Marketing (CAP Code)
• The Gambling Industry Code for Socially Responsible Advertising
• Guidance issued by the Advertising Standards Authority
• Guidance provided by the UK Gambling Commission
• Guidance on affiliate marketing requirements from the Information Commissioner’s Office

See also casino age verification rules.