Measures relating to the land-based gambling sector
Beyond messaging at the point of purchase, the approach taken to safer gambling messaging in advertising since 2005 has predominantly been a self-regulatory one, with the industry funding, designing and delivering its own campaigns. This evidence suggests that a simplified approach to communicating cost-of-play information could be more impactful and reduce harm compared to the currently permitted ‘return to player’ approach. Greater comprehension of the odds was also linked to fewer participants choosing to play, and other research led by Dr Philip Newall has shown including a volatility statement can lower gambling expenditure. Poker machines are programmed to pay out less than you put into them, so the odds are you will lose…The longer you play a poker machine, the more likely you are to lose all the money you have put in the machine. The industry is carrying out its own research in this area, with a project launched through the BGC’s Game Design working group looking at best practice for communicating material information on slot games, including chances of winning and payout volatility, at the point of purchase.
- In the most serious instances of non-compliance or risks of harm, Ofcom will also have the power to apply to the courts for “business disruption measures”.
- There is no restriction on the use of digital and virtual currencies as a payment method for gambling, though operators wishing to accept virtual currencies will need to demonstrate how any additional risks of them doing so are mitigated.
- Find out how to comply with your anti-money laundering (AML) responsibilities if you’re operating a gambling business in the regulated sector (remote and non-remote casinos).
- If you request a reduction and the casino delays, that is a breach of its licence conditions and a valid basis for a formal complaint.
- We believe these proposals will result in an online advertising environment that is safer for children and vulnerable people, while still allowing operators to continue to engage with key audiences.
Box 4: Compliance case study
You are required to tell us about certain things that happen in your business, these are dependent on the licences and activities you hold. Including information on how we carry out assessments, your responsibilities under the LCCP and other gambling-related legislation. Guidance and information for running a compliant gambling business.
The Casino Club Port Talbot in Wales – believed to be Britain’s first legal casino – was established in 1961 by gambling mogul George Alfred James. In July 2026, UK ministers began a crackdown on unlicensed casinos sponsoring sports teams. By introducing a new regulatory framework, the Gambling Act replaced outdated provisions from the Gaming Act of 1968, adapting to the evolving landscape of the gambling industry. The regulation of gambling in the UK underwent significant changes with the passage of the Gambling Act 2005, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of casino regulations.
Compliance activity is based on risk and the risk that each licensed activity poses to the Gambling Commission’s licensing objectives. You will need to apply for an operating licence, before you apply for a premises licence from non gamestop casino the local licensing authority. You can apply online for a licence from us to provide casino activities.
Gambling in other venues
Officials say two unlicensed premises in Doncaster were targeted a multi-agency operation. The bookmakers says it had ‘no choice’ after rises in gambling tax, national insurance and wages. A big test may come later this year, with indications that there may be a ban on gambling companies sponsoring the shirts of football and darts players. The Commission has already cracked down on one of the bookmakers’ cash cows, the fixed-odds betting terminal. The British public spent £2.2bn on online slot games in 2019, according to the Gambling Commission, and some estimates say the UK now accounts for 15% of these types of games. A Gambling Commission review from June 2025 found that satisfaction scores climbed 6 per cent among users who got richer risk alerts and detailed gameplay reports.
This means, for example, that operators will be able to site 2 Category B cabinet gaming machines to a minimum of one Category C or D gaming machine. The government intends to amend the current gaming machine ratio to allow operators to make 2 Category B gaming machines available to a minimum of one Category C and D gaming machine. This chapter outlines the evidence received in relation to the white paper proposal to amend the ratio of Category C and D to Category B gaming machines in arcade and bingo venues.
8.9% of respondents felt that their gambling had ‘at least some of the time’ caused financial problems for them or their household. This has led the regulator and many others to conclude that more prescriptive requirements are needed to strengthen protections for customers and set clear expectations for companies. Nonetheless, this is a potentially concerning pattern in a sector with a known addiction risk, and where a key manifestation of that addiction is high spending. The range of estimates submitted to our call for evidence suggest that (ignoring accounts which net win), around a quarter of Gross Gambling Yield is derived from 1% of accounts, approximately 60% comes from the highest spending 5%, and around 75% from the top 10%, although this varies by product. This distribution means that operator revenue is predominantly derived from a relatively small cohort of high spending customers.
This is an element in the alcohol licensing process that captures a wide range of evidence to inform licensing decisions. Most submissions to the call for evidence from licensing authorities cited the ‘aim to permit’ provision in the 2005 Act as an issue. As outlined above, the 2005 Act gave licensing authorities a range of powers to regulate gambling in their local area. However, some also voiced concerns that payment with debit cards could make it harder for customers to stay in control of spending and some were sceptical of the extent to which existing debit card technology would make it possible for operators to track chaotic play and intervene appropriately.
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.
This White Paper is a coherent package of proposals which we believe can significantly support and protect consumers, and improve overall standards in the industry. Given the correct powers and resources, the Gambling Commission can continue to make gambling safer, fairer and crime free. The review is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver positive change for gambling in Great Britain and for all people impacted by it. The measures we are announcing will protect at-risk players, while allowing the millions who bet regularly to do so unhindered.
We have not assumed that offering credit facilities will increase GGY, although it is possible that such a policy will make casinos that serve this type of customer more internationally attractive and help boost GGY above pre-pandemic levels. Typical exchange fees of 0.5% to1% (if negotiated in bulk on large transfers by the casino) would mean the cost of exchange would represent 12% to 25% on top of GGY, and provide a substantial disincentive to gamble in these casinos as opposed to in other jurisdictions. At high-end casinos, there is a relatively low house retention, so typically, a large proportion of stakes return to the gambler as winnings.
pause_circleOnline slot stake limits — the state of play
In addition to the written submissions sent to DCMS, we have considered a number of other sources of evidence. During the call for evidence period, we also noted a number of submissions from members of the public which came as part of coordinated campaigns on various specific issues. For example, 97.5% of respondents expressed their view that all gambling advertising should be banned, while 83.2% of the respondents said they would like to see the age limits for gambling increased above 18. Overall, the submissions from members of 38 Degrees demonstrated a generally negative view of gambling. Additionally, we note that these individual responses are far shorter and typically do not provide as much detailed evidence as the submissions sent directly to DCMS.
Under section 6.1.1 of the Commission’s LCCP, operators must put into effect appropriate policies and procedures for accepting and handling these complaints. Where operators breach these rules, they are subject to compliance and enforcement action by the Gambling Commission and consumer complaints are an important source of intelligence to inform this. As outlined in the previous chapter, the existing legislation and the Gambling Commission’s regulatory framework provide protections for individuals in setting rules which operators must follow.
Deposit limits, session limits and other player-centric controls help to empower customers. In the Gambling Act Review call for evidence, the Cashless Group submitted a proposal that transactions could take a minimum time of 30 seconds to roughly mimic the time taken from card insertion up until receiving funds at an ATM. Breaks in play are designed to stop dissociation/disconnection from the world around them, with research suggesting that best practice is to combine breaks in play with responsible gambling messaging.
Amending the regulations so that Small 2005 Act casinos only need a minimum table gaming area of 250sqm, reduced from 500sqm. Maximum gambling area for 1968 Act casinos will be decided following responses to the consultation. To be allowed 80 machines, its non-gambling area would have to be at least 250sqm. For example, a casino could have a gambling area of 500sqm, a table gaming area of 250sqm and a non-gambling area of 230sqm. However, 2005 Act casinos are currently allowed to offer betting and we are not aware of any issues that this has created. We intend on keeping the same requirements for calculating non-gambling areas for both 2005 Act and 1968 Act casinos.
These organisations generally made targeted submissions which concentrated on single aspects of the call for evidence and gambling policy which overlap with their interests. The next biggest category of respondents was Parliamentary stakeholders, including both Parliamentary groups and individual members of both houses. Most of the substantive evidence, information and data provided to the Review was included in the 404 submissions which were prepared in response to the call for evidence and sent directly to DCMS. To the extent that some gambling harms are more prevalent within certain protected characteristics (e.g. young people and potentially certain ethnic groups) and also among socio-economically deprived groups, our proposals to reduce harm should have a positive equalities impact. Young men aged 16 to 24 and 25 to 34 are more likely to experience both problem and at-risk gambling behaviours than other cohorts. Male online gamblers spent on average 81% more than females, and according to the PHE evidence review, men are more likely to be problem gamblers (0.8%) than women (0.1%).
The greater involvement of UKRI will encourage a multidisciplinary approach to gambling research which will create greater diversity and innovation in knowledge production around gambling. The government, the Gambling Commission, UKRI and the third sector will together work to stimulate interest, capacity and investment in the domestic gambling research field as an area that is attractive and sustainable for researchers. NHS England has also established a new Gambling Harm Clinical Reference Group, providing a forum for sharing learning and best practice across specialist gambling clinics, while providing clinical leadership for the expansion programme under the Long-Term Plan. It will also complement the National Institute of Healthcare Excellence (NICE) clinical guideline on gambling treatment, currently in development, and expected to publish in 2024. The final report is expected in spring and the findings will provide vital evidence to support improvement of current services. The OHID (part of DHSC) is in the process of undertaking a needs assessment of the treatment system in England, looking at both NHS provision and third sector commissioned services.
The Commission has prioritised enforcement in recent years, particularly around unlicensed operators and consumer protection. The Commission plays an important role in protecting consumers and ensuring gambling is conducted fairly and safely.” Young said she is looking forward to working in the gambling sector and supporting the Commission’s consumer protection role. For players, they signal stronger consumer protections and continued regulatory oversight of the industry.
The call for evidence asked whether there was evidence that government should moderately increase the threshold at which local authorities need to individually authorise the number of Category C and D gaming machines in alcohol licensed premises. Licensing authorities questioned whether the ratio approach to gaming machines is still an effective means of preventing harm in licensed bingo premises and adult gaming centres. The bingo industry also pointed to Gamcare helpline statistics which show that under 1% of the calls are from customers playing bingo or gaming machines in a retail bingo club.
It creates an onus on companies to understand the risks that they create for others, and to ensure they are mitigating those risks. It demands more of organisations in terms of accountability for their use of personal data, and adds to the existing rights of individuals. On 25 May 2018, there will be new data protection legislation in force, both in the UK and across the EU – the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The future of casino regulation in the UK presents challenges and opportunities for entrepreneurs.
Category D machines include a range of low stake machines, such as coin push, crane grabs and slot-style fruit machines. Should net position be visible at all times to the customer on machines accepting direct cashless payments? Should session time be visible at all times to the customer on machines accepting direct cashless payments? GamCare, in collaboration with the BGC, Bingo Association, Bacta and other businesses, have developed a land-based industry code for the display of Safer Gambling information. Should there be mandatory limits (default limits for time and monetary thresholds) on machines accepting direct cashless payments?