The Independent Betting Adjudication Service (IBAS) works as an alternative method to solve queries and disputes regarding fair play in gambling. So, instead of taking their disputes to court, the casinos and clients prefer engaging in the impartial mediation of a third party. This is done through common sense and the logic of law and helps to settle disputes between parties.
IBAS and similar services are extremely important, considering the growing popularity of technologies that may require regulation and arbitration. It focuses on providing free assistance to those who claim unfair results in their gambling. All disputes that are raised by customers are looked upon by an expert panel. The services provided are free of cost to its customers. However, it has an annual registration fee that is collected from independent casino operators.
With this in mind, let’s see what IBAS is and how it works.
What is IBAS All About?
The IBAS focuses on solving issues without indulging in legal obligations. The panel ensures that gaming providers follow proper standards that are already pre-determined by the Gambling Commission along with the terms and conditions laid down by the IVAS during the registration process. The adjudication panel does not conduct face-to-face hearings. They require elaborate written submissions from both parties which explain the facts of the issue raised.
Licensed and honest casinos working under clear terms and conditions pay a registration fee yearly in advance to the United Kingdom Gambling Commission and must follow the IBAS ruling over issues. Finding a such completely independent online casino is not that difficult due to them being extensively listed online. IBAS was engaged by the UKGC in 2015 for considering the fairness of the rules and regulations used by licensed holders when adjudicating disputes. It received duties and powers over it which would allow honouring a dispute ruling without the need to go to a court.
Objectives of IBAS
The three major goals IBAS strives to fulfil are:
- Promoting fair play in gambling
- Upholding clarity in communication between parties
- Solving disagreements within parties as fast as possible.
IBAS looks into the fast Resolution of raised disputes and stays absolutely unbiased when offering any advice. IBAS expects independent viewpoints from the parties and is consistently maintaining standards. It also upholds strict professionalism and ethics.
IBAS Functions
IBAS covers Bingo halls where a punter calls the house and is not considered or heard before the next number is drawn. Betting sites and casinos, where punters place late bets on games of chance like craps or roulette and then question the ownership of winning bets, are also looked into. For broken and unfair games, unless the claimant is extremely specific, the fairness of a game is an issue that must be directed towards the Gambling Commission.
IBAS also looks into the connectivity by service or a failure of software which affects most of the successful bets. Disputed offer terms include promotions or offer not honoured by the casino operator and disputes involving accounts shutting down or winnings getting cancelled due to multi-accounting are also resolved by the IBAS.
Issues Beyond IBAS Jurisdiction
IBAS does not cover disputes that are related to the standard of customer service provided by gambling operators. Allegations regarding cheating, fixing, or unfair games are not tackled by the IBAS either. Annoying email marketing methods by independent casinos are also not considered. Complaints regarding underage gambling are also not covered under the IBAS.
How Do IBAS Adjudication Procedures Occur?
For the adjudication of disputes, a panel of experts from the gambling field is chosen. The panel reviews the nature of the game or bet under dispute, considering the terms or rules of the transaction. If no relevant rules exist, the final decision is based on the principles of common sense. The IBAS is under the UKGC which makes its decision to bind stand-alone companies with a license from the Gambling Commission. Cases that range up to £10,000 are bound to follow these rules. If the customer remains dissatisfied, he can move to court.
Raising an IBAS Dispute
If you have a problem with a certain company and want IBAS to resolve it, you have two options. Firstly, you can use the organization’s claim wizard, as they call it. Secondly, you can simply follow the steps listed below.
- Create an account on the IBAS website
- Explain your problem with the company in a concise and precise manner
- State the expected outcome of the interaction with that company
- Mention the actual outcome and the company’s position regarding it
- Describe your further interactions with the company
- Specify an account number, username, or ticket/receipt number
- Provide available evidence like screenshots or photographs to support your claims.
In case, there is dissatisfaction regarding the ruling, both parties have to comply with the actual judgment. But if the factual error was a part of the ruling, new evidence that was not presented when the case was considered, the issue must be brought up within 40 days of receiving the ruling to appeal. This is a rare scenario because IBAS aims at being unbiased and gets people redressal for the issues.
Conclusion
By monitoring gambling operators’ interactions with customers and settling disputes between them, IBAS encourages providers to follow responsible gambling requirements. It has solved multiple disputes between clients and casinos that do not want to go to court due to the massive expenses behind it. It also helps people express their concerns and seek redressal by voicing out, which was not possible earlier. Thus, IBAS has definitely made gambling a much more trusted and safer place with the usage of technologies that help in dealing with the shady experiences that occurred in the past.