The New £2 Maximum Stake for Under 25s on Online Slots

In September 2024, significant changes will impact online slots. Stake limits will increase in an effort to combat online slot gambling harms, including binge play and large losses.

But what does this mean for those who gamble on online slots, and will it help to encourage responsible gambling?

The impact on adults

This will be the first time in the UK that online slots have stake limits. For 18 to 24-year-olds, there will be a maximum of £2 stake for online slots, and for those aged 25 and over, there will be a £5 stake limit.

The 18 to 24-year-old group currently has the highest average problem gambling score out of all age groups. In many cases, this will be a group with lower disposable income, and therefore, online slots can be addictive and problematic.

The white paper

The government’s white paper on gambling included different proposals to encourage safer gambling in the UK. This decision regarding minimum stakes came after a 10-week consultation regarding statutory limits. The white paper included almost 16,000 responses from the health sector, MPs, the gambling industry, academics, the health sector Members of Parliament, and those with experience of gambling-related harm.

The objective of the government white paper is to bring the gambling industry up-to-date and in line with the digital age we live in. Other aspects of the paper include the suggestion of financial checks to prevent large losses and a statutory levy to be used for the prevention and treatment of gambling harms.

What happens in September?

Later this year, these new stale limits will apply to online slot gambling. All UK operators will have a transition period of six weeks to ensure the £5 stake limits are in place for those ages 25 or over.

There will then be a further six weeks to apply the £2 stake rules for those aged 18-24.

Protecting the under 25s

Stuart Andrew, the gambling minister, said, “Although millions of people gamble safely every single day, the evidence shows that there is a significantly higher problem gambling rate for online slot games.

“We also know that young adults can be more vulnerable when it comes to gambling-related harms, which is why we committed to addressing both of these issues in our white paper.”

For gambling support, contact the National Gambling Helpline at 0808 8020 133 or read our guides for more information.