In a move aimed at curbing gambling addiction, the UK government has imposed a restriction on the amount of money people can bet on online slots. As part of a wider overhaul, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has decided to impose a £5 limit on all adults above the age of 25, and a £2 limit on those aged between 18 and 24. The government has also stated that it will raise taxes on gambling companies to fund addiction treatment facilities.
The government claims that these measures will enable people to gamble safely. Despite this, the betting industry’s main lobbying group has criticized the government, claiming that they are “at risk of losing perspective”. According to data from charity GamCare, addiction to online gambling slots has surged since the Covid pandemic. Of the 6,697 individuals who disclosed a form of gambling to advisers on the National Gambling Helpline in 2023-2024, 45% had problems with online slot games, an increase from 34% in 2020-2021.
Meanwhile, the National Health Service (NHS) claims to be treating more individuals with gambling problems, with referrals in this category more than doubling since last year. Gambling minister Fiona Twycross revealed that the idea behind the stake limits is to protect those at risk, with a focus on young adults. She added that gambling harms can ruin people’s finances, relationships, and ultimately their lives.
The Betting and Gaming Council, the industry lobbying group, revealed that it had provided £170m to fund gambling harm services over the past four years on a voluntary basis. However, the UK government stated that, under the current system, not all gambling companies contribute equally, with some operators paying as low as £1 a year towards research, prevention, and treatment. Grainne Hurst, chief executive of the Betting and Gaming Council, stated that the body supported the government’s proposals. Nonetheless, she stated that the government was at risk of losing perspective while simply dancing to the tune of anti-gambling prohibitionists.
The DCMS revealed that the mandatory levy would generate £100m, which would be used for the prevention, treatment, and research of gambling harm. Half of the revenue of the levy will go towards NHS care and 30% towards public health campaigns and other prevention measures. The remaining 20% will be reserved for research. Mark Weiss, deputy chief executive of GamCare, welcomed the UK government’s proposals and fondly mentioned that it was an important step in preventing future harm. The proposed levy could apply to anywhere between 0.1% and 1.1% of a firm’s gross gambling yield. These proposals are a response to the consultation orchestrated by the previous Conservative government between October 2023 and January 2024
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