In an announcement today, Labour confirmed its “first steps” towards strengthening gambling harm legislation in the UK in a bid to tackle the issue of gambling addiction
The Government is set to introduce huge changes to gambling laws as part of a major clampdown on the industry.
In an announcement today, Labour confirmed its “first steps” towards strengthening gambling harm legislation in the UK in a bid to tackle the issue of gambling addiction. For the first time ever, a £5 per spin limit will apply to all adults aged 25 and over on online slot machines with a £2 per spin limit for 18 to 24-year-olds.
The reason for the move is that online slot machines have been classed as a “higher-risk gambling product” which has been associated with “large losses, long sessions, and binge play”.
Labour says the proposed online slot stake limits – which do not have a confirmed implementation date yet – will work together with previous changes to slot game design, which have been in place since 2021. These include slowing down the speed of play and banning autoplay features, aiming to reduce play intensity and provide customers with a better understanding of their gambling.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is also planning to increase gambling company taxes to fund addiction treatment on the NHS. In its release today, the government says under the current voluntary system, not all gambling companies contribute equally, with some operators paying as little as £1 a year towards research, prevention and treatment.
According to data from charity GamCare, addiction to online gambling slots has surged since the Covid pandemic, and data from the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) found that young adults are particularly vulnerable to gambling-related harm, with under 25s having one of the highest proportions of respondents scoring 8 or more.
The gambling minister, Baroness Fiona Twycross, said: “Gambling harm can ruin people’s finances, relationships, and ultimately lives. We are absolutely committed to implementing strengthened measures for those at risk, as well as providing effective support for those affected.
“The introduction of the first legally mandated levy will be instrumental in supporting research, raising awareness and reducing the stigma around gambling-related harm. 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 government says the measures would allow people to “gamble safely”, but the betting industry’s main lobby group Betting & Gaming Council (BGC) said the government was “at risk of losing perspective”. However, it has since changed its tune and is now supporting the levy saying today that its members gave £50million to tackle gambling-related harm last year.
The lobby group also highlighted that the “vast majority” of people gamble safely, including on the National Lottery. It also pointed to a 2021 NHS survey that found 0.4% of the population have a gambling problem. However, data from the Gambling Commission have this at 2.5%.
The NHS has also confirmed that it was treating more people with gambling problems, with its latest figures showing referrals have more than doubled compared to the same period last year.
