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.”

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Every year in the betting and gaming industry, we come together to give the dedicated attention and space to education, awareness and signposting for Safer Gambling Week. This year’s week runs from 18-24 November, and aims to get everyone talking about gambling responsibly, as well as directing those who need further advice and support to the right point of contact.

The week-long educational event, which is led by the licensed gambling industry with the support of a wide range of partners, will see every sector of the gambling industry in the UK taking part (bookmakers, bingo clubs, casinos and online gaming operators).

While responsible gambling is something we consider daily and are always aware of, it’s a benefit to both the public and the industry to listen, learn and join together during safer gambling week. 

Staff training

Anyone who works in a licensed occupation in a strictly regulated industry knows how awkward it can be to tell a customer no, even when it’s for their own safety. 

Whether it’s suggesting a glass of water instead of another whiskey or taking a break from the roulette table, it can be an uncomfortable situation for both parties. However, it’s often necessary for player protection, and making sure that every employee is up-to-date on industry best practice is vital to continued success in the sector.

A few key points to keep in mind for staff training:

1. Do it and record it in your training log;
2. Do it as part of induction;
3. Look out for indicators of problem gambling;
4. Be aware of how customers may seek help – self exclusion, setting time and spending limits and taking breaks;
5. Engage in meaningful customer interactions; and
6. Review gambling training at least annually. 

Ultimately, the only way to maintain a sustainable, successful gambling industry is to ensure that it stays safe, fun and entertaining for customers at all times. 

………..

This year’s Safer Gambling Week has garnered significant support from a myriad of political corners, gaining the backing of a wide range of cross-party Parliamentarians, including Ministers & Shadow Ministers came out to support Safer Gambling Week 2024.

Grainne Hurst, Chief Executive of the BGC, emphasised: “Safer Gambling Week is about showcasing safer gambling tools that exist in the regulated industry all year round to ensure that the millions of people who enjoy a regular flutter, continue to do so in a safe and responsible environment.

“Previous years have shown that this campaign leads to increased use of those popular safer gambling tools – like time-outs and deposit limits.”

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A vocal point for this year’s initiative is ensuring that players are aware of the toolbox and the assets that are available to them, to benefit from a safer playing experience. 

Organised by the BGC, BACTA and the Bingo Association, Safer Gambling Week is now in its eighth year and will once again see a range of safer gambling messages, both online and in land-based venues, in a bid to grow the nationwide conversation about betting responsibly.

Andrew Rhodes, Chief Executive of the Gambling Commission, said: “Ensuring safety should always be central to every aspect of gambling.

“However, Safer Gambling Week offers a valuable chance to emphasise this priority even further.

“It also enables operators to exchange best practices, helping to make gambling in Britain among the safest experiences worldwide.”

Grainne Hurst, Chief Executive of the BGC, added: “Safer Gambling Week is about showcasing safer gambling tools that exist in the regulated industry all year round to ensure that the millions of people who enjoy a regular flutter, continue to do so in a safe and responsible environment.

“Previous years have shown that this campaign leads to increased use of those popular safer gambling tools – like time-outs and deposit limits.”

Safer Gambling Week and ensuring social responsibility standards are met are also vital for affiliates, with imperative steps being essential to ensure that traffic is safe.  

It brings further into focus the essential steps that affiliates take to ensure they target the right audiences with their content and bring in traffic of value to operator partners. 

Andrew Lee, COO of QiH Group, stated: “As a company focused on generating high-quality, responsible gambling traffic to our operator partner sites, safer gambling is a daily consideration for QiH Group. We recognise Safer Gambling Week as a valuable opportunity to stay engaged with the broader industry conversations and to hear from the community on responsible gambling.

“As affiliates are often an initial touchpoint for customers, our priority is maintaining a safe, compliant environment that benefits our partners and, ultimately, their customers. 

“We believe in supporting a balanced approach where gambling remains what it should be: safe, enjoyable entertainment.”

Pivotal to the BGC’s new standards was ensuring that land-based casinos are prevalent with safer gambling messaging.

New guidance for the casino sector features a host of strategies, including ensuring that slot machine safer gambling messaging is boosted – “outside of game play, at least 20% of slot machine top screen imagery to be dedicated to safer gambling messaging, where game and machine functionality permits”. 

As well as this, one strategy bids for safer gambling messaging to appear on slot machine receipts (referred to as TITO), promoting safer gambling and advice on staying in control, including the National Helpline phone number. 

These measures will apply across the diverse membership of the BGC, including land-based operators like casinos, which are a pillar of the hospitality and tourism sector, bookmakers on hard-pressed high streets and online gaming operators.

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The measures, which have already been implemented across the sector, include a trio of codes that have become part of License Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP) for members.

At the heart of the casino sector’s new guidance is ensuring that safer gambling messaging and increased information is prevalent within the land-based casino environment. 

Amongst other strategies one aims to ensure that slot machine safer gambling messaging is boosted – ‘outside of game play, at least 20% of slot machine top screen imagery to be dedicated to safer gambling messaging, where game and machine functionality permits’. 

As well as this, one strategy bids for safer gambling messaging to appear on slot machine receipts (referred to as TITO), promoting safer gambling and advice on staying in control, including the National Helpline phone number. 

These measures will apply across the diverse membership of the BGC, including land-based operators like casinos, which are a pillar of the hospitality and tourism sector, bookmakers on hard-pressed high streets and online gaming operators.

The code emphasises that members should consult external stakeholders when formulating new tools including collaboration with charities and other BGC operators. 

Betting and Gaming Council CEO Grainne Hurst, commented: “I am delighted to announce this new Code Handbook, which comprises over five years of determined work to raise standards, across the board.

“It is also entirely fitting that we publish this landmark new Code Handbook on our fifth anniversary. The BGC was founded as the industry’s standards body, and this Handbook draws together our sector’s combined efforts, under the leadership of the BGC, to raise standards on safer gambling in the UK.

“With 20 Codes covering 100 measures, which all BGC members follow as a condition of membership, this comprehensive document should rightly be seen as the concrete demonstration of our member’s determination to deliver world-class standards.

“This Code Handbook is also not the final word on this work, because the commitment to raising standards does not stop for the BGC, or our members.

“That’s why we are working with the regulator and government on over 50 additional workstreams which will raise standards even further as part of the White Paper reforms.”

Furthermore, the Code Handbook also highlighted the importance of the whistle-to-whistle ban on TV betting commercials during live sport before the 9pm watershed, which led to the number of such ads being seen by children at that time falling by 97%.

It comes at a pivotal time for the sector with white paper changes set to be implemented imminently.

Hurst added: “Taken alone, neither the recently published White Paper on gambling reform, or existing licence conditions set by the Gambling Commission, can deliver the world class standards our industry strives for.

“It takes independent determination on behalf of our members, and collective ambition by the BGC to deliver that. This Handbook is the result of that determination and ambition.

“We are determined to deliver the foundations for a sustainable sector, built on stability, growth and diversity, ensuring our members set the global standard for our world-class industry.”

To view the handbook in full, click here.

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In what was the first Labour budget for almost 15 years, it was widely anticipated that following think tank lobbying in the run up to the red briefcase reveal, the gambling industry would feel the wrath of the Labour government, which raised taxes by £40bn. 

The decision however to avoid burdening the gambling industry with significant tax rises was praised by Stephen Hodgson, Deputy Group Tax Director at Entain as ‘a sensible decision’. He also backed the decision to launch a future consultation on reform of online gambling taxes.

The Betting and Gaming Council also backed the move with CEO Grainne Hurst, emphasising that ‘any duty rise would have hit customers, prevented growth, risked jobs and bolstered the unsafe, unregulated gambling black market’.

She added: “The Government has listened to the BGC and our members, got the balance right, and rejected calls from anti-gambling prohibitionists seeking to threaten jobs and growth.

“With policy for the sector already set, our members can look to support the Government’s ambitious growth agenda, generating tax, jobs and investment across the nation while continuing to support sports like horseracing.”

She did however warn that ‘while there have been no rises in gambling duties, we will study the impact that increased employers’ National Insurance contributions will have on BGC members, particularly smaller operators like independent bookmakers and land-based leisure operators, like casinos.”

Hurst added: “BGC members contribute £6.8bn to the economy, generate £4bn in tax while supporting 109,000 jobs.

“The regulated betting and gaming industry also provides some of the country’s most popular sport with vital funding.

“According to a report by EY commissioned by the BGC, horseracing benefits to the tune of £350m annually, the English Football League and its clubs receive £40m, and snooker, darts and rugby league receiving more than £12.5m.

“BGC members are working with the Government and the Gambling Commission to deliver the proposals contained in the White Paper, many of which we called for to raise standards.”

Nonetheless, Partner at Keystone Law and Gaming, Licensing and Regulatory Lawyer, Richard Williams took to Linkedin to warn that “In light of these proposals, it appears that remote gambling duty will be merged into a single tax in due course and at a single rate. 

“On the basis that the 21% rate of remote gaming duty is unlikely to be reduced, the most likely outcome is that remote betting/pool betting duty will also be increased to 21% of GGY in the not-too-distant future. 2025 is likely to be negative for the remote gambling industry, but for now, the feared duty increases have not materialised.”

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A Guardian report revealed that Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer, is seriously considering the proposals of two think tanks to raise gambling taxes as the search for extra funding continues for the embattled government 

Underlining just how significant the hike would be on the sector, Hurst said: “The current speculation around taxes is being driven by anti-gambling campaigners, based on fantasy economics, and are simply not credible.

“I want to be very clear with the government, any further tax rises now will not only slam the brakes on growth for our sector, but it will threaten jobs and completely derail horse racing.

“Our industry is at a crossroads as we seek to implement the measures contained in the White Paper, measures that will cost our sector over £1bn. We also can’t ignore the new levy on research, prevention and treatment for problem gambling, which will raise £100m a year from bookmakers. 

“After so many years of uncertainty, we need stability to deliver sustainable investment, not further change which threatens to undo that contribution.”

Online casino games are thought to be at the centre of potential tax hikes, as part of a campaign pushed by multimillionaire Labour donor, Derek Webb. 

The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), which put forward the proposals, said as much as £2.9bn could be raised now, a figure growing to  £3.4bn by 2030 through an increase in remote gaming duty to 50%, more than double the 21% it currently sits at. 

Additionally, another think tank backed by Webb, the Social Market Foundation, is reportedly looking at a proposal that would have a smaller impact on the industry, but still strengthen government finances.

However, Hurst also issued a stark warning on the black market: “Any new taxes now risks giving a leg-up to the lurking menace of the black market, which is hoovering up disaffected customers with eye-catching offers but none of the protections that are in place in the regulated market.

“Customers have been hit hard for years, with increasing pressure on the cash people have available to spend on the hobbies they enjoy, once bills and taxes are paid. Now is not the time to ramp up that pressure. 

“Betting and gaming remains a hugely popular pastime in this country, with around 22.5 million people having a flutter each month, and it is enjoyed safely by the overwhelming majority. Our members are a Great British export and genuine global leaders, delivering enormous economic goods in city centres, on high streets and in the growing online sector.

“We want to partner with the government to see the right, proportionate regulations, and a stable tax regime, which doesn’t hit customers, doesn’t raise the attraction of illegal operators and doesn’t derail the horseracing industry, but instead delivers on the government’s growth agenda.”

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Writing for Politics Home, he emphasised that the industry’s regulations are moving at a pace that is simply too slow, with technology evolving the sector at a rapid rate. 

Collins specifically pinpointed concerns around the brick and mortar sector, as he urged the need for action to protect it from being dwarfed by the online market. 

The former Conservative MP predicted that fears and focus of government and policy-makers are set to shift from the customer experience to the growth of the offshore market. 

Collins was keen to urge the Labour government and the DCMS to make haste in implementing changes put forward by the gambling industry white paper. He believes that ‘the casino industry cannot afford to wait any longer’ and ‘the uncertainty is a major blow for an industry that is already struggling to get back on its feet after the really tough few years they encountered during the pandemic’.

Key to the changes is bringing the sector into the modern era and enabling casinos to become venues for an all-encompassing entertainment experience. They include the embracing of new tech and machines. 

The Betting and Gaming Council had previously expressed optimism that Labour would move relatively fast in collaborating with the industry and ensuring that the much-needed regulatory overhaul happens in good time. 

As the dust settled on the election and a new Prime Minister settled in to number 10, Betting and Gaming Council Chair, Michael Dugher, commented: “On behalf of our members, the 110,000 people whose jobs rely on the regulated betting and gaming industry, and the 22.5 million people who enjoy a bet each month, we welcome Labour’s victory and its commitment to continue working with the industry. 

“On hard-pressed high streets through bookmakers, in the leisure and tourism sector through casinos and bingo halls and in tech, where our members are genuine world beaters, this is a sector ready to contribute to growth, jobs and investment in the economy. We are investing in virtually every constituency in the land and we look forward to working with all the newly elected Members of Parliament.”

The BGC also pinpointed the importance of political stability as it moves forward with regulatory frameworks for the industry.   

Dugher added: “BGC members are currently in the midst of the biggest regulatory changes in a generation following the publication of the White Paper, which Labour supported, and much of this work will carry on now the election is complete. Our members have the much needed political certainty they need to plan and invest for a sustainable future.

“This work is backed up by the industry’s own significant efforts to drive world-class standards and protections for the vulnerable, which has transformed the sector in recent years and stands in marked contrast to the dangers posed by the unsafe, unregulated black market online.

“The BGC and our members remain committed to working with Labour to implement the evidence-based, proportionate, regulatory changes outlined in the White Paper, ensuring those measures get the balance right between protecting the vulnerable, while allowing the vast majority of punters who enjoy betting responsibly to continue doing so without unnecessary intrusion.

“The BGC had long treated Labour as a government in waiting, working closely with shadow ministers in recent years, on behalf of our members and their millions of customers.

“Our work to drive up standards and champion a world leading British industry carries on and we look forward to partnering with Labour – as they have pledged – in this vitally important work.”

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The commission published its first annual GSGB report earlier this week as the gambling regulator seeks to “establish a new baseline for understanding gambling behaviour in Britain”.

However, due to the changes to data collection to a push-to-web methodology, the UKGC has emphasised that the GSGB report estimates “are not directly comparable with results from prior gambling or health surveys and such comparisons should not be used to assess trends over time”.

The GSGB featured responses from 9,804 people in the 2023 annual report, but this figure will increase to around 20,000 by next year.

BGC members raise concerns

In a statement, BGC members have raised concerns about the estimates reported in the GSGB, noting that the estimates may be “unreliable” as there is a “significant risk GSGB overstates gambling participation and gambling related harm”.

A spokesperson for the BGC said in a statement: “The methodology used in this survey is different to those previously conducted into betting and gaming.

“As a result, the Gambling Commission has been clear, GSGB should not be used to make direct comparisons with results from prior surveys, as a measure of addiction, or to gross up problem gambling prevalence to the whole population.

“Our members are concerned these findings may be unreliable because there is a significant risk GSGB overstates gambling participation and gambling related harm. 

“Surveys using predominantly online self-completion consistently produce higher estimates of gambling participation and associated harms, compared to established alternative survey methods.”

The statement continued: “The BGC and our members are committed to raising standards and we welcome any robust study that accurately gauges betting and gaming participation and problem gambling prevalence.

“This commitment is backed by record funding, with BGC members voluntarily donating over £170m over the past four years to independent Research, Prevention and Treatment services to tackle problem gambling and gambling related harm.

“Each month around 22.5 million people in Britain enjoy a bet and the overwhelming majority do so safely and responsibly. The most recent NHS Health Survey for England estimated that 0.4 per cent of the adult population are problem gamblers.”

Independent GSGB review

The UKGC commissioned Professor Patrick Sturgis of the London School of Economics in November last year to conduct an independent review of the push-to-web approach for GSGB.

Publishing his review this year in February, Sturgis defined the GSGB developments as “exemplary in all respects”, and that the move to push-to-web will bring several “important benefits”.

However, he also provided seven recommendations for how the UKGC can address unresolved issues following his review of the GSGB methodology. This included:

• Research to better understand the relationship between survey topic and the propensity of gamblers to respond to survey invitations.
• Additional research to understand the role of socially desirable responding as the driver of the difference in gambling estimates between in-person and self-completion surveys.
• Randomised experiment to evaluate the effect of the updated list of gambling activities on estimates of gambling prevalence and harm. 
• Assess the extent of potential bias in the subset of questions administered to online respondents only.
• Continue to monitor best practice developments in the area of within household selection of adults in push-to-web surveys.
• Research on the prevalence of gambling and gambling harm in groups that are excluded from the GSGB because they are not included in the sampling frame.  
• Seek opportunities to benchmark the estimates from the GSGB against a contemporaneous face-to-face interview survey in the future.

Following the publication of the first annual GSGB report, Sturgis stated: “The new design of the Gambling Survey for Great Britain will significantly enhance the evidence base on patterns and trends in gambling behaviour.

“With an annual sample size of 20,000 individual interviews across the nations and regions of Great Britain, the survey will provide researchers and policy makers with fine-grained and timely data across a broad range of key indicators.

“Using a push-to-web mixed mode design and random probability sampling from the Postcode Address File, the survey implements state-of-the-art methodology to a very high standard.”

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Regulatory focus will be at the forefront of the focus for the industry as it progresses and looks to embrace wide-ranging reforms, which will further strengthen protections, with support from both the BGC and Labour.

Betting and Gaming Council Chair, Michael Dugher, commented: “On behalf of our members, the 110,000 people whose jobs rely on the regulated betting and gaming industry, and the 22.5 million people who enjoy a bet each month, we welcome Labour’s victory and its commitment to continue working with the industry. 

“On hard-pressed high streets through bookmakers, in the leisure and tourism sector through casinos and bingo halls and in tech, where our members are genuine world beaters, this is a sector ready to contribute to growth, jobs and investment in the economy. We are investing in virtually every constituency in the land and we look forward to working with all the newly elected Members of Parliament.”

The BGC also pinpointed the importance of political stability as it moves forward with regulatory frameworks for the industry.   

Dugher added: “BGC members are currently in the midst of the biggest regulatory changes in a generation following the publication of the White Paper, which Labour supported, and much of this work will carry on now the election is complete. Our members have the much needed political certainty they need to plan and invest for a sustainable future.

“This work is backed up by the industry’s own significant efforts to drive world-class standards and protections for the vulnerable, which has transformed the sector in recent years and stands in marked contrast to the dangers posed by the unsafe, unregulated black market online.

“The BGC and our members remain committed to working with Labour to implement the evidence-based, proportionate, regulatory changes outlined in the White Paper, ensuring those measures get the balance right between protecting the vulnerable, while allowing the vast majority of punters who enjoy betting responsibly to continue doing so without unnecessary intrusion.

“The BGC had long treated Labour as a government in waiting, working closely with shadow ministers in recent years, on behalf of our members and their millions of customers.

“Our work to drive up standards and champion a world leading British industry carries on and we look forward to partnering with Labour – as they have pledged – in this vitally important work.”

There were positive signs for the industry when Labour was eyeing entry into government, as it pledged to work closely with gambling stakeholders. 

At the heart of potential changes is the inclusion of a statutory levy to tackle problem gambling and gambling related harm, an Ombudsman to improve consumer redress, frictionless financial risk checks online, revised stake limits for online slots, a Sports Sponsorship Code and modest but mission critical modernisation proposals for the land-based casino sector.

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Simmonds will step down as Chair of the BGC on April 20, a position she has held since October 2019.

In addition, the council’s Executive Committee has stated that its Chief Executive, Michael Dugher, will take over as Chair from April 21.

“It has been a privilege to play my part in the development of the BGC since its formation in 2019 and it has been an honour to represent the 110,000 people whose jobs rely on the regulated betting and gaming industry,” commented Simmonds on her departure.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed working with our members, large and small, to raise standards, create a culture of safer gaming and build public and institutional trust in our world-class industry.

“I would like to thank the Executive Committee, colleagues, members, charities and stakeholders, who have supported me and worked very hard to deliver all of the achievements of which the BGC is rightly proud.”

BGC added that the search for a new CEO will be led by an external recruitment company and will begin immediately.

Dugher added: “I would like to pay tribute to Brigid for all the incredible work she has done at the BGC. She has made a massive contribution during her four and a half years as Chairman, launching the organisation and bringing together the different sectors.

“She has also led a change programme across the industry that has seen a relentless focus on raising standards on safer gambling. Brigid is a high-integrity leader who is rightly held in huge regard, not just in the betting and gaming industry, but across so many other industries and sectors, and across the political divide.

“Together with a new CEO in the spring, I look forward as Chair to building on that success – continuing and intensifying the work of change on standards, speaking up for the tens of thousands of men and women who work in the industry, and ensuring that the millions of people who enjoy a regular bet can do so enjoyably and safely.”

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