The British Government is making plans to roll out maximum betting stakes to online gambling operations in an effort to tackle rising gambling addiction rates in the country, reports have revealed.
Recent data provided by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) as a result of the regulator’s quarterly telephone survey saw the proportion of British adults gambling online equal to the proportion of British adults gambling in brick-and-mortar venues – 18%. In comparison, five years earlier, the proportion of people gambling in person was almost two times bigger than the online participation rates.
Local lawmakers have still not published the findings of their long-lasting review of the country’s gambling legislation but media reports reveal that maximum stakes are set to be implemented for online slot machines as part of the reform. Reports reveal that the maximum stakes for online gambling would range from £2 to £5, with new rules would make sure people are given the chance to place bigger bets only in case they can afford to.
Apart from this, British gamblers may also become subject to special financial checks, including credit and affluence checks, although the Government is still set to consult on the details of this reform. Reportedly, local lawmakers are also willing to introduce measures aimed at protecting underage individuals from gambling online. An independent ombudsman figure is set to be established to deal with disputes within the sector.
For the time being, there is no betting limit for gambling online.
Gambling Participation and Problem Gambling Rates in the UK Increase
Although there have been rumours that the UK Government wants to suspend gambling sponsorship agreements with professional football clubs, it now seems that British lawmakers have dropped plans to ban such English Premier League (EPL) club deals. Furthermore, unnamed sources with knowledge of the process shared that the Government plans to relax casino gambling regulations.
As Casino Guardian previously reported, the long-awaited review of the UK gambling laws was shelved by former Prime Minister Liz Truss. However, it now seems that current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is willing to finally give it a go.
The continuation of the Government’s review of the country’s gambling legislation comes at a time when health bosses from the National Health Service (NHS) have warned that online gambling causes a rapid increase in the number of British residents, particularly young men, turning to the Accident and Emergency Department. As previously revealed, Matt Gaskell, the head of the NHS Northern Gambling Service, NHS clinics are currently full of young men dressed in football shirts who have fallen victim to gambling companies’ foul marketing practices.
According to reports of the UKGC, the age group that was most likely to take part in online gambling services is the age group of 25 to 30-year-olds. Currently, approximately 2.2 million people are either categorised as problem gamblers or are at risk of developing gambling addiction.
NHS specialists have shared that there has been a 42% annual increase in the demand for National Health Service gambling clinics, which was exactly the reason why another two facilities in England were open to help cope with the problem.
- Author
Daniel Williams
