The UK government has announced a mandatory levy to fund research, education and treatment (RET) for gambling harms and online slots betting caps to protect new players.
Following the Gambling Review White Paper, DCMS has confirmed the introduction of online slots betting caps of £5 for over-25s and £2 for 18-24 year olds.
Following approval in February, the caps began to be rolled out in September under secondary legislation, with operators given six weeks to adapt to the new rules.
This period was followed by an additional six weeks to implement technical solutions to ensure full compliance with the reduced £2 betting cap for 18-24 year olds.
DCMS Gambling Minister Baroness Twycross stated: “The introduction of the first legally mandated levy will be instrumental in supporting research, raising awareness, and reducing the stigma around gambling-related harm.
Within those proposals, Twycross continued: “We are also helping to protect those at risk, with a particular focus on young adults, by introducing stake limits for online slots.
“These measures will help build an NHS fit for our future and strengthen protections, whilst also allowing people to continue to gamble safely.”
The transition period for the introduction of the £5 and £2 betting caps on online slots ends at the end of November.
The DCMS has defended the betting limits as a critical safeguard for customers playing online slots, which are designated as a high-risk gambling product.
Research from the Office for Health and Inequalities and the UK Gambling Review highlights that those under 25 are among the most vulnerable, with some of the highest rates of problem gambling in their age group.
The new online betting limits build on previous measures introduced in 2021, which included slowing down game speeds and banning autoplay features in an attempt to reduce the intensity of play and give customers more information about their gambling behaviour.
The DCMS has also approved the final draft of the RET tax as a legislative measure to provide £100 million in annual funding for organisations, projects and initiatives that support the treatment and prevention of problem gambling. The NHS will be positioned as the lead commissioner for RET services.
The RET will be applied as a percentage of gross gambling revenue (GGY) or its equivalent, with rates varying by sector and activity. Online operators will have to donate 1.1%, with a further 1.1% coming from all software licences.
DCMS concluded: “Technological developments in recent years have dramatically changed the way people gamble. Gambling has shifted from betting shops and casinos to online platforms, enabling play anywhere, anytime, on mobile devices, and leading to a significant rise in online gambling behaviour.
“The levy and online slot stake limits announced today complement a series of major reforms introduced by the government and the Gambling Commission to make gambling safer in an age of technological advances. These include financial risk checks to detect risky behaviour and stricter marketing controls.”
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