UK Government and UKGC Initiate Stakeholder Consultations for Gambling Act Review
The UK government, in collaboration with the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), has initiated a series of discussions with various stakeholders in the betting and gaming industry. This is a significant step in the ongoing review of the Gambling Act, which aims to modernise the regulatory framework for the UK betting sector.
Six Key Areas of Interest
These discussions are designed to gather insights and evidence from a broad spectrum of stakeholders. The focus of the UKGC’s initial consultation will be on six key areas. These include financial risk and vulnerability, the design of remote games, enhancing consumer choice in direct marketing, bolstering age verification measures, personal management licences, and the structure of regulatory panels.
A central proposal being considered is the implementation of ‘financial risk checks’. These checks would necessitate operators to carry out risk assessments if a customer is likely to experience significant harm from substantial losses. The government has suggested a benchmark for these checks, with a monthly net loss threshold of £125 and a yearly net loss of £500 for initial checks. A higher threshold has also been proposed, with losses of £1,000 in a single day or £2,000 within a 90-day period triggering a check.
Other proposals under consideration include updating the age verification code of practice, reducing the speed and intensity of online products such as slot games, and providing customers with the option to opt-in to a specific product type and marketing channels.
The UKGC itself will also be subject to review during these consultations. The White Paper has recommended an examination of the UKGC’s regulatory panels, specifically their composition and decision-making processes.
Slot Limits
In addition to these areas, the government has identified changes to slot stake limits as a key focus for consultation. The White Paper suggested a maximum stake limit for online slots of between £2 and £15. However, stricter measures may be implemented for 18-24-year-olds, potentially including a £2 or £4 limit, or a risk profile-based approach.
The consultations are open to a wide range of stakeholders, including industry figures, clinicians, academics, those with firsthand experience of gambling harm, and the general public. The overarching goal of these consultations, and the review as a whole, is to enable the land-based sector to thrive sustainably, meet customer demand, and continue to recover from the impacts of COVID, while also ensuring customer protection.
