The UK has set new limits for online slot players in a bid to protect people from harmful gambling. According to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, people aged 18-25 who play online slots will be restricted to wagering just £2 per spin, while adults aged 25 will face a £5 stake limit. This move will inevitably hurt vendors.
This proposal was first proposed as a White Paper on the Gambling Act, which the UK government released in April 2023. It aimed to transform how gambling is regulated in the UK.
Besides introducing measures to protect UK residents from experiencing gambling-related problems, the White Paper introduced several proposals to support the brick-and-mortar gambling industry. Over 140 operating casinos in the UK support thousands of jobs, so the government does not want to hinder its success.
Moreover, some researchers show that online slot games are one of the most addictive forms of gambling. Hence, the UKGC concluded that the age group of 18-24-year-olds who participate in online gambling experience more gambling harm than any other age group.
In addition, they have a lower income and an ongoing neurological development that stops them from assessing risk.
Prior to imposing these limits, the UK government conducted a 10-week consultation period, during which it sought opinions from academics, treatment providers, and individuals. The majority of respondents agreed with the proposal.
Stuart Andrew, who is the gambling minister in the UK, acknowledges that millions of residents gamble responsibly and safely every day. Nonetheless, there is evidence that shows a higher problem gambling rate for online slots.
He adds that young adults can be more vulnerable to gambling-related issues, so this is just a set of measures to protect people from such harm.
Most gambling charity organisations were also pleased by the new set of measures. For example, Zoe Osmond, the CEO of GambleAware, welcomed the UK government’s announcement and sees the limits as an important mechanism to protect young gamblers.
In his statement, Osmond notes that the company’s research has shown worrying trends with young people who experience an increase in problem gambling.
Everyone participating in the UK’s iGaming industry does not welcome such news. Some estimates show that about £4 billion of revenue is collected annually from online casinos.
Slots comprise most of that income, with a £3.2 billion intake. As such, this regulation would be a severe hit to vendors, as they are set to experience a big revenue downfall in the coming period.
