What Proposed UK Gambling Laws Could Mean for Weybridge, Surrey and Other UK Players
Online casinos will face strict limits under new government proposals set to overhaul Britain’s wagering laws. However, the measures will depend on further discussions, meaning more delay to much-awaited changes.
The gambling white paper will include plans to make betting safer after a litany of high-profile cases. Some punters have suffered huge losses, lost jobs and terminated mortgages, among other devastating consequences.
New measures in the white paper expected to cut across Weybridge, Surrey and other UK centres include:
● Online slot machine stakes restrictions to range from £2 to £15 per spin
● Fewer restrictions for brick-and-mortar casinos
● Obligatory levy on betting revenues
● Mild affordability checks
● Steps to reduce online casino games
● Safe gambling campaigns by the government
The raft of measures above is the first in Britain since the introduction of smartphones, which has changed how we play at an online casino UK. Most wagering happened in physical locations such as casinos and betting shops after the passing of the Gambling Act in 2005.
Nowadays, the industry generates two-thirds of its revenue from online stakes. Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer even sensationally claimed that the massive use of mobile devices means “There’s a Las Vegas on every phone.”
Online slot machines are considered to have the highest rate of wagering addiction among the many betting products. The white paper proposes stake limits ranging from £2 to £15 per spin for online slots.
Moreover, the government plans to set lower limits and better protection for 18 to 24 year olds who are considered mainly ‘vulnerable.’ Options targeting young players include a limit of £2 and £4 stake limit per spin or a method relying on individual risks.
Another hotly-contested topic is affordability checks, which campaigners view as a sure bet of halting financial ruin. However, the government is angling for a softer approach where companies will perform checks when online casino players lose money. Meanwhile, lobbyists of the multi-billion industry have come out guns blazing against checks requiring casino operators to demand proof of earnings.
Ministers will enquire with the UK Gambling Commission on when and how to carry out the checks. An earlier version of the white paper suggested that reviews kick in if a bettor loses £1,000 in 24 hours or £2,000 in 90 days. So far, how the checks will take effect is unclear.
After further consultations, digital marketing features like ‘free’ bets and bonus promotions will also change. Trusted sources from the new gambling laws discussion group mentioned that the Brexit saga was partly to blame for the legislative backlog in introducing new limits on marketing.
A new 1% mandatory levy will be imposed on wagering revenue to support betting addiction programs like education and treatment. To put it in perspective, the 1% levy would have raised at least £100 million in each of the three years preceding the pandemic. Currently, the gambling industry makes voluntary contributions as part of its social responsibility.
The Department of Health is also expected to be essential in promoting safer betting messages. As of writing, the messages are sent by the industry parties and GambleAware charity.
With increasing regulations on online operators, brick-and-mortar casinos will get some reprieve. Some people even see it as a way of levelling the playground between physical and online casinos.
Mid-sized casinos will now have 80 wagering machines, up from 20. Their upmarket peers can now offer credit to high rollers from overseas. There are also plans to allow gaming equipment to use debit cards. Once the proposals set out in the white paper are put in place, there’ll definitely be a change in the casino landscape in the UK.