New rules have been introduced to “empower players” and increase transparency in online gambling. The UKGC’s recent legislation requires all casino sites to prompt customers to set financial limits before their first deposit in an effort to enhance player safety.
Effective from October 31st, these requirements are part of an initiative to increase consumer control over deposit limits, reducing problem gambling and overspending.
Other changes in this ruling require operators without protected customer funds to remind players of the risks involved every six months. Unprotected funds mean a player’s money is vulnerable in case of insolvency.
Lastly, the existing mandate for operators to provide annual contributions to problem gambling research, prevention, and treatment organisations will end when the government’s new statutory levy comes into place, expected on the 6th of April.
What The UKGC Says About The Move
Tim Miller, Commission Executive Director for research and policy, said on behalf of the UKGC: “These changes illustrate our commitment to ensuring gambling is fair and open by improving consumer empowerment and choice.
“These changes will help consumers decide on deposit limits, enable them to keep track of their spending and ensure they are fully aware of what happens to their funds should an operator become insolvent.
“We will now continue our work to deliver our remaining White Paper commitments, including our programme of evaluation.”
What This Means for UK Players
From October 31st of this year, when joining a new casino site, you’ll need to set a maximum deposit limit before making your first deposit. These can be daily, weekly or monthly, and ensure that you can’t deposit more than this amount in that given timeframe.
Deposit limits can be easily adjusted either upwards or downwards, although usually, you’ll have to wait until the timeframe is over before the new limit comes into effect. Players will have the option to choose any amount but opting for a higher limit may trigger a request for additional verification.
While there is freedom to choose, the higher the limit, the more likely you’ll need to provide proof of affordability, such as a payslip. These changes align with the 2023 White Paper on gambling reform, which aims to enhance player safety through harm reduction and KYC regulations. While the reform seeks a fairer and safer gambling environment, it has faced criticism from both the industry and players.
