consultation

Money and rights

The Commission will consult further on minimum transaction times, limit setting functionality, staff alerts, safer gambling messaging and the display of session time and net position. We believe these measures strike an appropriate balance between regulation applicable to modern payment methods, consumer benefits and protection of the licensing objectives. To support the bingo club sector further we will consider exploring the use of primary legislation to provide a clear distinction between bingo clubs and arcade premises.

Apps have been developed which enable payments to be made indirectly, from a bank account to the app and then to the machine. The Gambling Commission’s advice emphasises that account-based play could have an important role in protecting consumers of land-based products. Gambling Commission research showed that 79% of land-based gamblers feel that paying with cash helps them to feel in control of their spending, 73% saying that it makes it easier to keep track of spending, and 70% reporting that it makes it easier to set limits on spending. A survey carried out by GamFam and submitted to the call for evidence included suggestions that cashless payments using debit cards with customer ID cards could effectively increase monitoring in venues.

Further, the terminal must only allow participation in one activity at a time and should not permit simultaneous bingo and machine game play. Retail bingo clubs have highlighted that recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic has been slow and fragile due to the vulnerability of many of their customers and that the proposals set out by the sector could allow clubs to modernise and extend their offer to customers. It said that side bets on a main stage bingo game could allow customers to increase their opportunities for a return (for example, on the colour of the final ball, the number of the final ball to be drawn or which segment of the room the winner of the house will be sat). The sector cited evidence of the social and community benefits of bingo (particularly for older people).

Encouraging further industry innovation within the current framework is unlikely to achieve meaningful progress due to limitations with meeting wider consumer preferences. Consumer preferences therefore indicate that cashless would need to complement, rather than replace, cash as a gambling payment method. 45% of respondents would not be happy at all to pay for gambling via cashless payment methods. 77% felt that cashless makes it easier to spend more on gambling than intended, and 66% said that using cashless payment methods made it feel like they are spending less money than they actually are.

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Data provided for a London casino over a four-week period in October 2019 showed a clear correlation between average dwell time and occupancy rates. Casino licences originate from two legislative regimes – the Gaming Act 1968 and the Gambling Act 2005. In order to ensure local authorities can continue to carry out their licensing and enforcement duties effectively, we are proposing to raise this cap by either 10%, 20% or 30%. We are also seeking views and evidence on what the impact would be if the 80/20 rule were to be removed completely.

Unlike the arcade sector, bingo clubs would not remove substantial numbers of tablets as these machines are primarily used for playing the game of bingo itself. We also received a small number of responses from local authorities, charities and gaming machine manufacturers. The supplementary consultation was shared with all of the initial respondents to the land-based gambling consultation who left contact information, and received 16 responses. Do you have any additional insights or evidence relating to recent trends in GGY, profit and costs for bingo and AGC operators?

In conclusion, the evolution of casino regulations in the UK reflects the changing dynamics of society, technology, and the economy. Through diligent enforcement of regulations, the government aimed to safeguard the interests of both players and the broader community, setting a precedent for responsible gambling practices. Moreover, the enactment of measures to prevent crime and uphold the fairness of games contributed to enhancing the reputation and credibility of the UK gambling sector. This tension has led to ongoing debates and revisions in regulatory frameworks, with policies evolving to address issues such as problem gambling, money laundering, and underage access to gambling establishments. We publish registers of licensed businesses, individuals, regulatory actions and premises. If you or someone you know struggles with gambling addiction, we recommend you contact the free gambling helplines like those operated by organizations like

We propose to introduce a stake limit for online slots, consulting on a limit of between £2 and £15 per spin, to structurally limit the risks of harmful play. The Gambling Commission intends to consult on mandating participation in a cross-operator harm prevention system based on data sharing, following assessment of the currently live operator trials which have had input from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and the Commission. Individual operators can take steps to prevent harm on their own platform but people suffering gambling harms usually hold multiple accounts or can open new ones easily. Further information will only be requested from customers as a last resort where it is necessary to complete an assessment, and the use of any data gathered through such checks will be restricted to assessing financial risk and indicators of financial distress.

The increased complexity of operators’ business structures has made it increasingly difficult for the Commission to manage requests for changes of corporate controls and identify and assess the ultimate beneficiaries of applicants for licences.
The ADR provider’s name and contact details must be listed in the casino’s terms and conditions.
The Gambling Commission also recommended that some clarifications and technical amendments are made to the Gambling Act 2005 to confirm that certain powers apply to licensing authorities and/or licensing officers in Scotland as they do in England and Wales.
We will also work with the relevant trade bodies and operators to understand the feasibility of implementing voluntary test purchasing to help understand whether operators are abiding by this new restriction.

Most people will probably find this impacts their slot machine play a lot since so many people use autoplay to avoid the tedious clicking. In addition, all autoplay features will need to be removed from casino games. We think that many of these changes will help combat problem gambling, so we wouldn’t be surprised if they ended up being used in multiple gambling jurisdictions anyway. We expect a lot of these changes to roll out around the world, especially in games produced by British casino game developers.

Several operators claim they are holding on to players longer because clearer rules and a safer environment build trust. Public-health groups mostly cheer the rules, but many operators say the new tech adds cost and shakes up tried-and-true business models. Larger operators are now pooling resources in head office compliance units and leaning on automated identity checks to keep up with the rising paperwork.

Some concerns were raised by industry about the technical feasibility of voluntary limits, particularly for Category D crane grab machines. The vast majority of respondents agreed that there should be a minimum transaction time for customers making a cashless transaction on a gaming machine. This could include looking at how customers interact with machines that accept cashless payments, how much they spend and the impact of different protections. As set out above, while chip and PIN could be used as a verification method, we would expect manufacturers and operators to adapt or make new machines that accept payments made by mobile devices which have some sort of biometric verification and meet the SCA standards.

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The minimum legal gambling age is 18 for every product except the National Lottery and equivalent society lottery draws, where the minimum is 16. The thresholds below are the headline LCCP triggers; individual operators may layer stricter internal rules on top. These are sometimes called “affordability checks” in the press but the Commission now uses the terms financial vulnerability and financial risk. The 2023 White Paper proposed maximum online slot stakes of £2 per spin for 18–24-year-olds and £5 per spin for players 25 and over.

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We do not want to restrict operators’ ability to use offers to attract new customers or retain existing ones, and acknowledge that ‘blunt’ measures in this area could unintentionally benefit the black market. The Gambling Commission will consult on setting higher standards for operators in obtaining all customers’ consent to direct marketing and promotional offers. A recent behavioural audit of 10 popular online operators also found that when a new account is created, half of the operators automatically sign the individual up to other brands or products owned by the operator’s parent company. There are already clear requirements that operators must seek informed and specific consent to send direct marketing to consumers, as well as requirements that direct marketing must not be sent to those who have self-excluded or are showing strong signs of harm. The combination of high re-wagering requirements and tight time limits to claim winnings poses clear risks in terms of creating a sense of urgency to gamble, incentivising high-intensity play and potentially gambling more than one had originally planned to.

We have high confidence that the proposals address practices and products which can cause or exacerbate the risks of harm, but due to the complexity of gambling harms we cannot precisely project the reduction in gambling-related harm we expect to see at this stage. We will adjust the 80/20 ratio which restricts the balance of Category B and C/D machines in bingo and arcade venues to 50/50, to ensure that businesses can offer customer choice and flexibility while maintaining a balanced offer of gambling products. The Gambling Commission will undertake a review of gaming machine technical standards, to include the role of session limits across Category B and C machines. We challenge industry to improve age verification and will legislate when Parliamentary time allows to strengthen licensing authority powers in respect of alcohol-licensed premises by making provisions in the Gambling Commission’s code of practice binding. We think therefore that the mechanism for funding projects and services to tackle gambling harms should no longer be based upon a system of voluntary contributions.

The main piece of legislation that regulates both land-based and online casinos in the UK is the Gambling Act, passed in 2005 by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. In the following sections, we will examine the legislation concerning casinos in the United Kingdom, an industry that now generates more than £3.2 billion in gross gaming yield. As noted above, from 1 May 2025, operators may only 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. The IA should, however, provide a more robust, balanced assessment of societal costs because of the risk of increased gambling harm, as well as providing more narrative on international evidence. Costs to business include for familiarisation, and purchasing and implementing additional gaming machines. The package is intended to modernise the rules that apply to casinos and to help the sector to grow, while ensuring that appropriate safeguards against gambling-related harm are in place.

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However, between 2005 and 2021, just 112 studies with a focus that included gambling were funded by UK Research Councils or the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) compared with 691 for alcohol. The scope of the issues covered by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Medical Research Council (MRC) are most relevant to gambling as a topic. non gamestop casino As with all fields of research, qualified researchers from universities and other organisations such as businesses and charities can apply directly to UKRI to fund research on gambling.

Genting International Casino is one of the largest casinos in the UK and certainly the largest in Birmingham. Yes — all licensed UK casinos offer games that use Random Number Generators (RNGs) to ensure fair and random outcomes. All player funds are held in separate accounts, ensuring they are always protected and available for withdrawal.Are online casino games fair? UKGC-licensed casinos protect your money and personal details using strong encryption and trusted payment methods.

For operators, the updates introduce new reporting requirements, updated consumer law references, and operational guidance. For bingo operators, the tax change reduces administrative work and removes a dedicated duty on bingo revenue. For operators, this clarification may reduce levy payments if they generate significant revenue outside Great Britain. The Commission has also clarified how the statutory gambling levy should be interpreted. For operators, the complaint-handling framework will change once the new system launches.

Empowering local leaders to take decisions in their area is a priority for this government and we support them in the use of the broad powers which the planning and gambling regulation frameworks give them to set licence conditions and consider applications. This is subject to further work to assess the conditions and how to limit gambling harm, and subject to Parliamentary time to legislate. We support allowing specific proposals for new machine games to be tested within planned industry pilots under certain conditions, with the close involvement of the Gambling Commission. We recognise the internationally competitive market in which the small number of high-end casinos operate and the challenges the sector faces.

This is consistent with the intention of the 2005 Act to create destination venues with a balanced offer of gaming products and other leisure activities. Data was provided for a London casino over a four-week period in October 2019 for carded play, which represented 45% of overall slots play. The second recommendation supports amending land-based controls to take account of changes in technology and consumer behaviour, ensuring that amendments include appropriate safeguards for consumers, avoid unintended consequences and have due regard to the original intentions of Parliament.