It appears that an error has resulted in a Sky Vegas email that was promoting enticing gambling offers was sent out on a mass basis, including to people self-excluding from gambling.
It can be possible for people to self-exclude from gambling using a platform directly or through a service such as GamStop. This can prevent them from using gambling services, and it is a vital tool to protect people who may suffer from gambling addictions and may be losing a significant amount of money. You would not expect such vulnerable people to receive an email with enticing gambling offers, and it seems that Sky Vegas should have excluded those people from their marketing promotion.
Unfortunately, they failed to do so. This may mean that people suffering from addictions could be at risk of relapsing having received the email, and we expect people to be understandably distressed over the event.
About the Sky Vegas email issue
What we understand so far from news of the Sky Vegas email, mainly from their Twitter feed and having seen posts from angered recipients, is that an email campaign reportedly included people who were self-excluding from gambling. Sky Vegas posted a tweet to sincerely apologise for the event and for anyone who had mistakenly received their promotional communications. They acknowledged the distress that this could have caused and have confirmed that an urgent investigation into the matter is now underway.
A number of twitter users took to the platform to complain about the event, and this included people who are understood to be currently self-excluding from gambling.
Why this is a serious matter
The Sky Vegas email incident is a serious matter given that enticing marketing material may have been sent to people with serious gambling addictions who are self-excluding from their services. Gambling addiction is a serious problem, and it can cost people their livelihoods. It is important that vulnerable people are protected, and it is a cause for concern that this event could lead to some people relapsing.
This event could constitute a breach of the GDPR and the PECR (Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations). This could be on the basis that recipients who are self-excluding should not have received the marketing material at all. This event could also breach UK Gambling Regulations as well.
What can be done about this incident?
As specialist Group Action Lawyers, we are used to fighting for the rights of consumers who have been wronged by the actions of an organisation. It is not uncommon for a simple error to lead to an event where real people suffer, and this may be what has happened in this particular event.
Ultimately, if you have received the Sky Vegas email and you are registered for self-exclusion with them and/or with GamStop, our argument is that you should not have received the email at all. If receiving the email has resulted in you suffering from understandable distress then this is where you may have a valid claim for compensation. We may be able to represent you for a legal case on a No Win, No Fee basis.
Please do not hesitate to contact our team here for free, no-obligation advice now.