To combat the alarming increase in gambling addiction, the government of the United Kingdom has announced comprehensive reforms to gaming legislation. The new measures build on previous regulations, such as slowing game speeds and banning autoplay features on slot machines, designed to reduce the intensity of gambling sessions and enhance player control.
A key component of the changes is the implementation of stake restrictions on online slots, which are intended to safeguard vulnerable populations, especially young adults. A £5 per spin limit will be in place for players aged 25 and over, while a £2 per spin limit will be in place for those aged 18 to 24.
These measures are part of an overall strategy to combat the epidemic of compulsive internet gambling that came about in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. A staggering 45% of National Gambling Helpline callers in 2023–2024 cited online slot games as their primary worry, up from 34% in 2020–2021, according to GamCare. There is strong evidence that the repetitive nature of these games contributes to the negative effects, particularly when played for lengthy periods in a row.
A Mandatory Levy
The government is also making a historic policy change by instituting a legislative fee on gambling enterprises. This would ensure that all licensed operators pay for the funding of addiction treatment, prevention, and research initiatives. In place of the previous voluntary approach, which allowed some operators to contribute as little as £1 per year, this obligatory charge is anticipated to generate £100 million each year.
With the new system in place, half of the budget will go toward NHS treatment services, thirty percent toward public health campaigns and prevention, and twenty percent toward research. The levy, according to Gambling Minister Baroness Fiona Twycross, is an essential step in building an NHS that is “fit for the future” and lowering the stigma associated with gambling-related damage.
Some Mixed Reactions
The changes have elicited differing reactions from the gambling industry’s representative, the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC). Although the BGC agreed that it was critical to address gambling-related damage, they warned that anti-gambling sentiment should not have too much sway on policymakers. The council did, however, draw attention to the £170 million in voluntary donations made by its members to combat gambling damage during the previous four years.
Experts in public health, on the other hand, have praised the changes. Referrals to the NHS for treatment of gambling addiction have increased by 129% in the last year, as pointed out by Claire Murdoch, the National Director for Mental Health & Addiction at the NHS. National Clinical Advisor on Gambling Harms Professor Henrietta Bowden-Jones highlighted the widespread nature of gambling harm by referencing statistics indicating that 2.5 percent of the population engages in extremely damaging gaming.
