As part of a sea of regulatory changes within UK gambling, DCMS cemented plans for the introduction of online slot stake limits of £5 for those aged over 25 and £2 for young adults aged 18-24, as recommended by the White Paper.
Implementation of £5 and £2 stake limits on online slots will come in at the end of November, signifying a landmark change for UK gambling safeguards. Approved in February, the rollout of the changes has been fragmented.
Operators were granted an initial six weeks to comply with the new rules, followed by an additional six weeks to implement technical solutions ensuring full compliance with the reduced £2 stake limit for 18-24 year olds.
DCMS cited that the latest changes are ‘a critical protection’ when it comes to safeguarding players, as it looks to enhance safeguards for more vulnerable younger players.
DCMS stated: “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.
Further rollouts of White Paper measures will see UK gambling adopt a statutory levy on funding of research, education, and treatment (RET Levy) of gambling harms alongside the online stake limits.
This latest update for the RET Levy seeks to ensure £100m in annual funding for organisations, projects, and initiatives supporting the treatment and prevention of problem gambling.
This morning DCMS filed an accompanying consultation response on the RET Levy’s structure in which it revealed the Levy rates (% charged on previous year Gross Gambling Yield):
- 1.1% from all online operators
- 1.1% from all software licences
- 0.5% from land-based casinos
- 0.5% from land-based betting
- 0.2% from on-course bookmakers
- 0.2% from Adult Gaming Centres
- 0.2% from land-based bingo
- 0.1% from Family Entertainment Centres
- 0.1% from pool betting licences
- 0.1% from all machine technical licences
Operators with gross profits under £500,000 will be exempt from the levy as the government will formally review the statutory levy system within five years “with the first formal review expected by 2030.”
Prior to the announcement, reports indicated that DCMS Gambling Minister Baroness Twycross was expected to reveal key measures imminently. Twycross stated this morning that:: “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.”
In support of the RET Levy, Minister for Health Andrew Gwynne, said: “Tackling gambling harm is a crucial part of our commitment to support people to live longer, healthier lives.
“This levy will provide an important funding boost for the NHS, whilst also enabling independent research and more effective prevention initiatives. By making NHS England responsible for all treatment and support services for those experiencing gambling-related harms in England, we will ensure people are getting the most effective care possible.”
Allocation of RET funds
The statutory levy will position the NHS as the chief commissioner of RET services, operating under a new framework to distribute funds effectively. The allocation of funds is as follows:
- 50% of the revenue will go to NHS England and equivalent bodies in Scotland and Wales to develop a comprehensive support and treatment system, covering referrals, triage, recovery programmes, and aftercare services.
- 30% of the funds will focus on gambling harm prevention, including public health campaigns and training for frontline workers to identify and address gambling-related issues. The government plans to detail these strategies in the coming months.
- 20% of the funds will be allocated to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to establish a Research Programme on Gambling, aimed at delivering evidence-based insights to shape future policies and regulations.
Grainne Hurst, BGC CEO concluded: “The BGC supported plans outlined in the White Paper published last year to reform stake limits and introduce a mandatory levy to fund Research, Prevention and treatment.
“BGC members voluntarily contributed over £170m over the last four years to tackle problem gambling and gambling related harm, including £50m this year alone, funding an independent network of charities currently caring for 85 per cent of all problem gamblers receiving treatment in Britain.
“Ministers must not lose sight of the fact that the vast majority of the 22.5m people who enjoy a bet each month, on the lottery, in bookmakers, casinos, bingo halls and online, do so safely, while the most recent NHS Health Survey for England estimated that just 0.4 per cent of the adult population are problem gamblers.
“The tone of this announcement suggests the Government is at risk of losing perspective of these facts, while simply dancing to the tune of anti-gambling prohibitionists, which serves no one.”
