Regulators are becoming more significant in the gaming industry due to the growth and widespread reach of games, as well as their potential to negatively impact business and players. Regulators are focusing on issues like monetization techniques that exploit children, gambling elements, and games that encourage overengagement. The industry needs to proactively respond by not ignoring regulators, staying informed of policy developments, factoring regulations into product design, and considering regulations in strategic planning, as oversight is the new normal.

1. The Rise of the Regulators
Paul Gardner
Partner
Wiggin LLP

2. Overview – Four questions
• Who do we mean by regulators?
• Why are they becoming more significant?
• What are they doing?
• How does the industry need to respond?

3. Who do we mean by regulators?
• “A public authority or government agency responsible for
exercising autonomous authority over some area of human
activity in a regulatory or supervisory capacity.” Wikipedia
• In the UK, these include:
• Also direct governmental action and international agencies

4. Why are they becoming more
significant?
• #1 - The growth and development of the industry
• Size and reach
• Nature – particularly monetisation models
• #2 - The potential impact on business – for example...

5. Why are they becoming more
significant?

6. What are they doing?
• Monetisation
• Over engagement...
• The wider net of digital regulation

7. Monetisation – Effect on gameplay

8. Monetisation – Exhortations to
children

9. Monetisation - Gambling

10. Monetisation - Subscriptions

11. Over engagement...

12. The wider net of digital regulation

13. Unionisation

14. How does the industry need to
respond?
• #1 - Don’t ignore
• #2 - General
• Keep informed of developments
• Engage with and support trade associations
• #3 - Factor into product development
• #4 – Factor into strategic considerations
• It’s the new normal

15. Questions?
Paul Gardner
Partner | Wiggin LLP
t. +44 20 7612 7735
e. paul.gardner@wiggin.co.uk