Safer products
UK Gambling Commission Updates: What Players and Operators Need to Know
We cannot predict the extent to which data sharing will influence the impact of financial checks at this stage since key implementation details are still subject to consultation (e.g. the data shared and the triggers for sharing it). Similarly, we assume CRAs can provide frictionless enhanced checks for 80% of customers who hit the enhanced spending check thresholds, with half the remainder subject to semi-agreeable checks (e.g. open banking) and the other half (10% of all those who hit the higher thresholds) subject to disagreeable checks. However, many people will simply complete the checks and no concerns would be raised, so for those individuals (as long as they are not showing other signs of harm) spending would not necessarily decrease. We used this as the best available data, but are aware that some features of the market have changed since 2019 (e.g. new player protections). The data underlying our modelling is the data tables produced as part of the Patterns of Play (PoP) research.
This is one of the strongest consumer protections embedded in the UK casino regulations. If you are asked for affordability documentation at a UKGC-licensed casino, this is a legal requirement — not optional. Automated checks use open banking data and credit reference information. For most recreational players, the the operators above changes are largely invisible day-to-day.
‘Cash-out’ slot-style machines have a maximum stake of 1 pence and a maximum prize of £5, while ‘ticket-out’ slot-style machines have a maximum stake of 30 pence and an equivalent of a prize worth up to £8. There are 2 types of Category D slot-style machines, one that pays out a small amount of cash, and one that pays out tickets which can be exchanged for a small prize, toy or sweet. Currently, Category D machines have no age restrictions and include a range of low stake machines, such as coin push, crane grabs and slot-style fruit machines. The consultation proposed to make it an offence for a person to invite, cause or permit a child or young person to use ‘cash-out’ Category D slot-style machines. We do not view this as a necessary player protection for these lower stakes machines and we are conscious that it could impose a barrier to implementing direct debit card payments, particularly on machines such as crane grabs. We propose that Category D machines are not required to show net position or session time.
For example, 5 out of the 7 operators focus on betting, so the PoP dataset accounts for operators providing 86% of online betting in Great Britain, as against 38% of online gaming. We recommend that licensing authorities update their policy statements using a wide range of data and analysis, including making use of spatial tools and public health data to identify vulnerable areas and to state their position on additional gambling premises in these areas. CIAs could allow licensing authorities to put a presumption against new premises in a particular area, based on evidence related to harm, which may take the form of ‘high impact zones’ being identified within a licensing authority boundary. We consider that allowing bingo premises to offer side bets in a more flexible or expanded form as described by industry, within a defined set of parameters, would allow them to diversify their offer to customers and that conditions could be attached to reduce the risk of harm. When granting a premises licence, a licensing authority must consider the impact the premises might have on the surrounding area, for example, the risks of anti-social behaviour or of children attempting to access gambling facilities.
For example, it is likely to be acceptable for personal data to be processed where a licence obligation requires it. We expect licensees to continue to be able to evidence that they have complied fully with their licence conditions. It would also mean that operators’ may be fined, casinos not on gamestop and their licence could be revoked.
Respondents from the land-based gambling industry were generally supportive of proposals which would remove restrictions on supply, pointing to the unrestricted availability of the same products online. The casino measures section of the consultation received 41 responses from a variety of stakeholders, including gambling operators and trade bodies, local government organisations, campaign groups and academics. We will introduce an age limit of 18 and over for the use of ‘cash-out’ Category D slot-style gaming machines. We will allow direct debit card payments to be made on gaming machines, subject to the player protection measures outlined within this government response. In practice, this means that 2 Category B gaming machines on a cabinet device type can be made available to a minimum of one Category C or D gaming machine on a cabinet device type. This measure will apply on a device type basis, meaning that the ratio applies across the 3 different types of device on which gaming machines content is currently offered in arcades and bingo halls, namely cabinets, in-fills and tablets.
There has never been an express statutory prohibition on the use of cryptocurrency in UK-licensed gambling. The Gambling Commission is exploring a potential pathway for licensed operators to accept cryptocurrency as a payment method representing a significant policy development. Operators must be able to evidence that controls are effective in practice, embedded in day-to-day operations and reviewed regularly for continued suitability. Holding a Gambling Commission licence requires more than documented policies.
If even the smallest casinos are mostly running their full allowance of 20 machines profitably, there is likely to be significant untapped demand in larger casinos for more machines. This includes changes made recently that have yet to take effect, such as the new rules on customer interaction (in the online protections chapter), and changes to be taken forward in future, such as the review of game design rules (section 1.3) or the data sharing on high risk customers (section 1.2). The revenue reduction is expected to be mainly online, largely because our new measures increase the obligations on remote operators to check on high spending customers and prevent continued spending where the customer may be experiencing harm. In order to reduce gambling-related harm, we tackle practices and products which evidence shows exacerbate risks and help ensure opportunities to prevent harm are taken.
1 Licensees must have and put into effect procedures for self-exclusion and take all reasonable steps to refuse service or to otherwise prevent an individual who has entered a self-exclusion agreement from participating in gambling. 6Additionally, some licensees will be subject to specific statutory requirements to retain relevant data, under the Money Laundering Regulations 2017 for example. However operators should be aware that the Gambling Commission cannot provide any definitive ruling on the interpretation of the GDPR, and the ICO will address any issues on a case by case basis.
If you’ve played online casino in the UK for any length of time, you’ll know the rulebook never truly sits still. £1 million is a hefty fine, but it is more of a statement to operators out there and showcases how serious the UKGC is about protecting consumers from problem gambling. Self-exclusion helps problem gamblers and allows them to request gambling operators to deny them service. A recent example of how much the UK takes this seriously can be seen with SkyBet, one of the largest online betting providers in the country. The UKGC does not go after individuals who are participating in illegal online gambling. Online gambling, also known as remote gambling, is considered legal in Great Britain if the operator possesses a licence from the UKGC.
The same research found that rates of risky gambling were lowest amongst those who only play bingo compared to those who play fruit/slot machines and bingo, who have the highest rates of risky gambling. The PHE gambling-related harm evidence review highlighted Health Survey evidence that non-remote bingo (3.3%) and in-person horse race betting had the lowest problem gambling rates of all non-lottery activities. The proposal to make provisions within the Gambling Commission’s gaming machine Code of Practice for alcohol licensed premises binding (when Parliamentary time allows) will give the regulator and licensing authorities clearer powers to intervene in these instances of failure. We expect this to enable operators to reduce the number of energy-intensive older machines that are less used by customers. We acknowledge that some player safety improvements have been made to modern Category B3 gaming machines which cannot be easily replicated on the older Category B3, C and D machines.
Safer products
Therefore, a general shift in the economic model of remote gambling away from a reliance on a high spending minority is likely desirable to achieve the government’s objectives and create a more sustainable industry. A recent survey of UK gamblers estimated that moderate-risk and problem gamblers (collectively comprising 14.1% of the sample population) accounted for 43.5% of overall gambling spend but more for certain product types. In addition to submissions to the call for evidence, we also received advice from the Gambling Commission, which emphasised the importance of measures to prevent harm throughout the remote customer journey, and committed to build on recent work to improve protections.
Options/Help
More widely, operators are expected to implement processes designed to identify when customers are exhibiting signs of potential harm and to interact and intervene in a way that is proportionate to the risk identified. Since 1 May 2025, operators have only been allowed to directly market to customers that have consented to marketing on a granular per product (i.e., casino, bingo, betting) and per channel (i.e., SMS, email) basis and, in January 2026, further rules will take effect on the offer of incentives. Other than that, different types of gambling activity conducted by the same media can be combined – for example, a “remote” gambling operating licence might well have betting, gaming and software operation endorsed upon it. This applies to all forms of gambling, both online and land-based, including the National Lottery and scratchcards, which moved from 16 to 18 in 2021.
- While we agree that it would be harmful for any form of advertising or marketing to ‘normalise’ harmful practices (for example underage or unaffordable gambling), we do not consider participation in gambling in and of itself a form of harm.
- Looking for the best casino in the UK — online or on the high street?
- It’s comforting to see that the commission hasn’t placed undue burdens on honest players, even as their mandate require them to stamp out money laundering.
- Please share any evidence or information that is relevant to the proposed amendment to the definition of gaming tables since the government stated its intention to make this change in 2018.
We intend to take a similar approach by giving the Gambling Commission the power to apply to court for such an order and use these powers to disrupt illegal gambling operators. In the most serious instances of non-compliance or risks of harm, Ofcom will also have the power to apply to the courts for “business disruption measures”. The Gambling Commission, as well as evidence from the Review, has shown that unlicensed sites pose an increased risk to the most vulnerable consumers. The black market is relatively easy for people to access who are actively trying to find and gamble with illegal operators online. From the limited evidence that is available, we would assume that the size of the black market does not currently account for more than 2.5% of remote gambling that takes place in Great Britain. The Danish Gambling Authority’s 2022 Report on illegal gambling estimates that the online gambling channelisation rate (the percentage of all gambling that takes place legally) is 98% in Great Britain and therefore the black market accounts for 2% of online gambling.
For more on how protections like these work in practice, see our responsible gambling UK guide. This aligns UK gambling AML standards with broader financial services requirements. Enhanced AML checks — anti-money-laundering procedures are more rigorous under the these tested platforms, with enhanced source-of-funds verification required for high-value customers.
Game Design Regulations
The first is to ensure that operators benefit from commercial flexibility to increase GGY through the ability to make more Category B machines available and/or reduce their energy costs through the removal of underused Category C and D gaming machines. Under Option 1, we received responses from industry which suggested that only slight increases in Category B gaming machines would be made. However, some licensing authorities posited that rather than removing lower staking machines, gambling operators should be deploying novel solutions to saving energy, such as incorporating standby and sleep functions on machines which are not in use.
Starting 29 July 2026, a new licence condition will require land-based gambling operators to remove gaming machines deemed non-compliant by the Commission. The changes made enable the holder of a converted casino premises licence relating to premises in England and Wales to make up to 80 gaming machines (including Category B gaming machines) available for use, provided a number of specified conditions are satisfied (“the extended entitlement”). Bacta (the trade organisation for family entertainment centres, adult gaming centres, operators and manufacturers), proposed the live-testing of concepts for new machines so that industry, the Gambling Commission and government could gather evidence on the potential gambling harms and mitigations. Currently, gaming machines can only be linked in casinos — and only sub-category B1 machines on the same premises — with the maximum prize set at a double that for a non-linked sub-category B1 machine.
This means we have asked Qualtrics to collect your information via an online survey platform, which we will review as part of the consultation process. You have the option to select ‘Prefer not to say’ in response to any of the questions that ask for your personal data. We will use your data to enable us to carry out our functions as a government department.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) published its gambling white paper in April 2023, which set out the government’s plans for modernising the regulation of the gambling sector. If these changes affect how your personal data is processed, DCMS will take reasonable steps to let you know. Any changes to this privacy policy will apply to you and your data immediately.
All stakeholders recognise the potential for a so-called single customer view (SCV) to tackle this risk. Customers’ ability to swap to another account risks undermining the effectiveness of an individual operator’s safeguarding interventions. Likely impacts are explored in more detail in Annex A of this white paper, and the Commission will give further consideration to impacts, including the potential for any unintended consequences, through its detailed consultation. The Data Protection and Digital Information (No .2) Bill, currently before Parliament, includes some important clarifications to the rules around lawful processing and the circumstances in which personal data collected for one purpose can be used for other purposes, which should make the law clearer in this area. We will also make sure consumers’ financial lives are not impacted through these checks, with credit scores being unaffected and potentially adverse consequences of reciprocal data sharing avoided. We recognise these proposals have significant implications for collection and handling of sensitive consumer data, raising important questions around privacy, data protection, proportionality, data accuracy, and reciprocal data sharing.
The Behavioural Insights Team’s response to the consultation recommended that voluntary limits that are strongly encouraged are used over mandatory limits as the evidence of the impact of the latter is limited. The cooling-off period was also longer than industry submissions, with several respondents stating it should be 60 seconds or more. Respondents from the pub sector were in favour of voluntary limits over the mandatory limits but stated that if they were imposed, they should be consistent across the industry. The government’s preference is for a 30 second minimum cooling-off period, but we would be content with a longer minimum time period if evidence provided in response to the Gambling Commission’s consultation suggests that longer is needed in order to protect players.
All operators must also adhere to our Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP). Our guidance summarises the legal background and legislation which operators must follow to be compliant. The NRA sets out the key money laundering and terrorist financing risks for the UK. HM Treasury and the Home Office have published the national risk assessment (NRA) of money laundering and terrorist financing 2020 (opens in new tab).