UK sets £2 spin limit for under-25s on online slot games to combat harmful gambling

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Under-25s taking part in online slot games are to be restricted to £2 a spin from September underneath new measures to shield individuals from harmful gambling, the government has introduced.

Adults aged 25 and over will face a £5 stake limit “to counter the increased risk of significant harm and life-changing losses” from online slots, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) mentioned.

There is at the moment no limit on the quantity that gamblers can stake on online slots.

In 2019 the federal government imposed a limit on stakes on the equal machines in betting retailers – known as fixed-odds betting terminals – from £100 to £2.

The DCMS described the brand new limits as a “landmark moment” for the regulation of online gambling.

Easily accessible online slot games are one of the vital addictive types of gambling and might be related to massive losses, lengthy classes, and binge play, in accordance to proof offered throughout a session over the proposals contained within the authorities’s gambling White Paper.

Evidence from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities confirmed that younger adults may very well be notably weak to gambling-related hurt, with under-25s having the best common drawback gambling rating of any age group.

NHS survey figures additionally confirmed an issue gambling price of 8.7 per cent for online gambling on slots, on line casino or bingo games – one of many highest charges throughout gambling actions.

Young adults had decrease disposable earnings, ongoing neurological growth impacting threat notion and customary life stage components similar to managing cash for the primary time, the DCMS mentioned.

Evidence additionally pointed to a stronger hyperlink between gambling-related hurt and suicide amongst younger adults.

Gambling minister Stuart Andrew mentioned: “Although millions of people gamble safely every single day, the evidence shows that there is a significantly higher problem gambling rate for online slot games.

“We also know that young adults can be more vulnerable when it comes to gambling-related harms, which is why we committed to addressing both of these issues in our White Paper.

“The growing popularity of online gambling is clear to see, so this announcement will level the playing field with the land-based sector and is the next step in a host of measures being introduced this year that will protect people from gambling harms.”

Zoe Osmond, chief govt of gambling charity GambleAware, mentioned: “We welcome the government’s announcement to introduce lower online stake limits for under-25s as an important mechanism to protect young people.

“Our research shows a concerning trend with this age group experiencing an increase in harm arising from gambling and online slots are very high-risk products.

“As we continue our work to tackle this growing public health issue, we will collaborate with the government and others across the gambling harms sector to ensure there are no missed opportunities when it comes to the introduction of robust preventative measures, including new regulations such as these.”

However different campaigners described the bounds as a “missed opportunity” after calling for a most of £2 or much less throughout the board.

Gambling with Lives co-founder Charles Ritchie mentioned: “The £2 limit for under-25s is a step in the right direction, but £5 for over-25s is another missed opportunity to stop the harm to millions and the devastation caused by gambling suicides.

“Stake limits offer some reduction in harm but the products are still highly addictive, so we also need much slower spin speeds, affordability checks, and proper public health information about the dangers.”

The limits will come into pressure in September following secondary laws, with a six-week transition interval for operators to turn out to be compliant with the final £5 stake limit guidelines, adopted by an additional six weeks for the event of any needed technical options to guarantee operators are absolutely compliant with the decrease stake limit of £2 for youthful adults.

The DCMS mentioned responses to the broader White Paper measures can be printed “soon”.