£100 gambling loss limit could be introduced

As part of a strategy to impose stricter gambling legislation, a gambling loss limit of £100 per month could be introduced.

Protecting problem gamblers

In a bid to protect those most at risk from gambling related harm and make operators more responsible, the UK Gambling Commission are reviewing proposals that, if passed, will set a strict limit on the amount players can lose within a given period. This will be to further ensure players aren’t losing more than what they can afford and getting into debt.

With over 2million people in the UK regularly partaking in some form of gambling, it is thought that 21% of those are either at risk of developing a gambling addition or have already developed an addiction which causes them to spend more than they can afford.

According to research, over 50% of the population have a disposable income of less than £250 and therefore lower loss limits should be introduced. The disposable income is derived from the amount of money left over after essential bills such as rent and mortgage, bill, taxes and basic living costs are accounted for.

Alternative online casinos

Although many feel that a £100 loss limit is unreasonably low, there is also the additional argument that by introducing this low limit to all UKGC licensed casinos, this would in turn drive thousands of players to look for online casinos that are not licensed by the UK and therefore not bound by the same regulations.

While there are plenty of perfectly safe and trustworthy online casinos that hold alternative gaming licenses, there are some unscrupulous operators that may prey on the fact that players are looking for alternative sites where they can choose freely, how much they are prepared to spend and lose.

As a result, a careful balance must be struck between protecting vulnerable players and ensuring other players don’t feel pushed out of the UK market by over zealous restrictions.