Young online gamblers are expected to face some limits on the amount they are allowed to bet under the new pieces of legislation that are reportedly being prepared by the UK Government.
According to The Sun, ministers would hold consultations on the potential limits that could be imposed on slot games offered online, and the proposed limits vary between £2 and £15, with a £2 limit aimed to be imposed especially for individuals under the age of 25. Apart from that, gambling operators are also set to be taxed to fund problem gambling treatment.
As Casino Guardian previously reported, Members of Parliament who have been supporting the proposal for stricter regulation of the gambling market confirmed for the BBC they expected the introduction of the new tax and stake limits on gambling firms targeting British customers. They further unveiled some expectations for the implementation of tougher affordability checks in an effort to make sure that gambling operators’ consumers are not permitted to spend more money than they can actually afford to.
Ministers, however, are not expected to unveil a full ban on gambling advertising, as they have been urged to do by some campaigners. There has been intense lobbying in the last few months, with the lawmakers reported to be working on the finishing touches to the planned new gambling laws.
Tougher Gambling Laws Being Considered by UK Government
According to reports, the proposed new laws for the gambling sector are expected to be published by the UK Government in the upcoming weeks.
The much-expected White Paper of the Government, which has been addressed as the most serious shake-up of the local gambling industry in more than two decades, was originally announced towards the end of 2020 but has been delayed multiple times due to various reasons, including the political turmoil associated with the Cabinet of Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his successors.
As mentioned above, it is expected to introduce new curbs in England, Scotland and Wales. The rumour has it that the English Premier League (EPL) is also likely to agree on a deal to suspend sponsorship agreements with gambling operators and the presence of their logos on the front of the clubs’ shirts.
Reportedly, a new tax of 1% of the companies’ profits could be faced by gambling operators in the UK, with the money gathered set to be used for funding gambling support gambling addiction treatment and services. For the time being, gambling firms targeting British customers only make voluntary contributions towards education, research, prevention and treatment of gambling-related harm.
The trade body representing the legal gambling sector in the country – the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) – has noted that its largest members have pledged to make contributions of £100 million in a four-year period. Recently, the BGC supported the introduction of a mandatory levy, saying that its members are already making contributions to support safe and responsible gambling. The trade body officials, however, shared their concern that the introduction of a mandatory 1% blanket ban on all gambling operators would be unfair to companies operating betting shops because they usually face higher running costs and property taxes.
- Author
Daniel Williams
