Gambling Commission announces new slot game regulations

The UK Gambling Commission has just announced a new set of regulations for online slot games as part of its continued effort to strengthen the protections and controls for players.

These measures will be introduced in response to the consultation launched in July last year by the Gambling Commission into changes to the design of online slot games and features such as quick spin and autoplay.

The strict new measures will need to be implemented by all licensees by the 31st October this year and will include an outright ban on certain features, including autoplay.

According to the Gambling Commission, autoplay features have been linked to players losing track of play, making it difficult to stop playing and control the length of gameplay. It has also been shown to be used in conjunction with other gambling activities.

Slot games with a spin speed faster than 2.5 seconds will also be banned, and features that speed up gameplay such as quick spin will also have to be removed.

Additionally, sounds or imagery that give the impression of a win when the return to player is equal to or below stake value will also be banned under new regulation, giving the player a more accurate representation of their gameplay.

Gambling Commission chief executive Neil McArthur said “This is another important step in making gambling safer and where the evidence shows that there are other opportunities to do that we are determined to take them.”

These changes from the Gambling Commission are part of the ongoing efforts by the Commission to help make gambling fairer and ultimately safer for players.