Here comes the White Paper
The UK government has finally released its gambling law plans
Good morning. On the agenda today:
Three culture ministers later and after multiple leaks and countless delays, the UK’s gambling White Paper was finally released today. Among the highlights:
A mandatory levy of 1% on GGR to fund the treatment of problem gamblers.
New £2 limit on slot play for under-25s; £15 limit for older players.
The establishment of a gambling ombudsman.
Frictionless player protection checks to protect those most at risk of harm before unaffordable or harmful losses are incurred.
Culture minister Lucy Frazer says the proposals "protect the most vulnerable, but not get in the way of the majority of people who want to have a flutter".
Unpacking the White Paper
The government finally delivers its long-promised proposals for the future regulation of gambling.
No surprises: As was trailed by the extensive leaks, the final proposals as unveiled this morning were in line with what was expected by the sector. The consultation process around the mandatory levy, the new limits on slots and the proposed affordability measures are part of a package of measures designed to “update gambling laws for the digital age”.
The full 250 pages of the report can be accessed here. In brief, the following measures are proposed:
A statutory gambling operator levy to ensure that operators help fund treatment services and research, including through the NHS.
New stake limits for online slots games will be between £2 and £15 per spin. The government will also consult on measures to give greater protections for 18–24-year-olds who the evidence shows are at heightened risk of harm.
Frictionless player protection checks to protect those most at risk of harm before unaffordable or harmful losses are incurred.
Extra powers for the Gambling Commission to enable it to tackle black market operators through court orders and work with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to take down and block illegal gambling sites.
Rules to prevent bonus offers from harming vulnerable people.
Closing loopholes to make sure under-18s cannot gamble either online or via cash fruit machines including National Lottery scratchcards.
A new industry ombudsman.
A review of the current horserace betting levy to make certain racing continues to thrive.
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It’s about time
Once in a lifetime: Frazer said the updating of the Gambling Act from 2005 was well overdue. “We need a new approach, which recognizes that a flutter is one thing; unchecked addiction is another,” she told the House of Commons.
In the statement she added; “We are stepping in to update the law for those most at risk of harm with a new levy on gambling operators to pay for treatment and education, player protection checks and new online slots stake limits,” she said.
“This will strengthen the safety net and help deliver our long-term plan to help build stronger communities while allowing millions of people to continue to play safely.”
Chiming in: Andrew Rhodes, Gambling Commission CEO, also spoke in the press release about the “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity to "deliver positive change”.
“Everyone at the Commission welcomes today’s publication of the White Paper and is determined to work with the government and partners to make these changes a reality.”
Nothing to see here: Speaking for the industry: Flutter said it noted the publication of the White paper and would be “assessing ti’s contents”
What next?
Given the delays in the release of the final document, Frazer was pressed to ensure the consultation process was as swift as possible. In response, the minister noted the measures already taken by the government such as the cut in stakes on FOBTs, the introduction of the credit card betting ban and the reforming of VIP schemes.
She said the measures would be introduced via statutory instruments in order to bring the measures forward “as soon as possible”.
Asked about future-proofing, she said the government would “keep matters under review”.
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What they say
Get your skates on: In her response, shadow minister Alex Davies-Jones said we need a “modernized, robust system” and asked what economic impact studies had taken place in making the recommendations for the changes to the land-based sector.
“The time for more and more consultation has been gone,” she added.
“I know this has taken some time, but I would like to point out this is the largest reform we have had since 2005 so it is right that we take the time to get these regulations right.”
Talking a good game: Under pressure on the sponsorship of football shirts, Frazer congratulated the English Premier League over the introduction of its voluntary ban on short sponsorship by gambling companies.
“They have talked about it for a long time and they have now taken action.”
The anti-gambling lobby offered little hint that they were fully satisfied with the measures as proposed. Iain Duncan Smith, anti-gambling Conservative MP, said “It’s a start.
“But on advertising and children – not far enough, I don’t want to be churlish. But I welcome this common-sense step.”
Fellow agitator for more restrictions, Carolyn Harris, Labour MP, said: “After 18 years of gambling industry dominance over this agenda, now is the time for leveling up.”
Level playing field: Charles Cohen, CEO at DoTrust, said the new regime for checking financial vulnerability means that operators “no longer need to worry about losing customers to competitors because every site will have the same thresholds”.
“This will transform the industry and its relationship with customers,” he added.
“The Government has rightly acknowledged that technologies like open banking exist to make this data exchange low-friction and I fully expect gamblers will adjust to the new expectation very quickly.”
Raging full on: Less sanguine about the proposals was Phillip Davies MP from the libertarian wing of the governing party, who said of his own part it “used to believe in individual freedom and individual responsibility”.
“But that seems to have gone out of the window with these affordability check proposals,” he told MPs on the floor of the house.
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In other news
Ontario regulator sanctions trio: The registrar of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission (AGCO) has sanctioned three operators for allegedly offering games it had not approved. LeoVegas, Bunchberry and Mobile Incorporated are accused of breaching the Canadian province’s rules on uncertified games.
Mobile Incorporated was handed a C$30,000 penalty, while LeoVegas and Bunchberry must pay C$25,000 and C$15,000 respectively. The trio have a right to appeal.
Netherlands expands self-exclusion regime: The Netherlands gambling regulator has added an eight-day reflection period to the end of its self-exclusion register. The Centraal Register Uitsluiting Kansspelen will now allow players to set a longer period than the previous minimum six-month limit. It applies to arcades, casinos and online games of chance.
Terminology has also been updated to become more explicit, with self-exclusion now defined as a “gambling stop” rather than a “play break”.
More than 38,000 people are currently using the system in the Netherlands, officials said.
Entain hit Down Under: The Australian Communications and Media Authority has penalized Entain for accepting 78 online in-play bets on the Bangkok LIV Golf tournament in October 2022, through its Ladbrokes and Neds services.
ACMA issued Entain an infringement notice of $13,320, the maximum set under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 for this breach.
This is the first infringement notice ACMA has issued for in-play betting rules.
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