After a number of delays to the process, the UK government has finally outlined the details of the white paper on gambling rules. The aim of the reform is to modernize the Gambling Act 2005 for the digital age.
Lucy Frazer, the UK Secretary of State for Culture, spoke in Parliament on Thursday. Introducing the reform to her fellow MPs, she noted that betting companies have “ballooned in size” and the advent of the mobile phone has made the industry “unrecognizable” from the early 2000s when the Gambling Act was created.
a flutter is one thing, unchecked addiction is another”
“When gambling becomes addiction it can wreck lives. We need a new approach that recognizes a flutter is one thing, unchecked addiction is another,” Frazer added. She went on to confirm a number of changes that the paper will bring to the UK gambling industry. The key changes are as follows:
- An increase in affordability checks when losses are unaffordable or harmful.
- A staking limit of between £2 ($2.49) and £15 ($18.70) for online slots, subject to consultation.
- The UK Gambling Commission will get resources to help curtail VIP schemes and bonus offers.
- A new statutory levy for gambling firms will help “turn the tables on problem gambling.”
- A non-statutory ombusdman will give customers a “single point of contact” for grievances.
- A rebalance of regulation will remove restrictions that disadvantage the land-based sector.
She also noted the choice by the English Premier League to voluntarily ban front-of-shirt gambling sponsors from 2026.
Concluding her statement, Frazer said: “It is our responsibility to make sure that our rules and regulations keep up with the real world so we can protect the most vulnerable whilst also allowing everyone else to enjoy gambling without harm.” She did not confirm when the changes would come into place.
