UKGC to Implement Industry Checks

The United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) will implement industry affordability changes.

These affordability checks aim to encourage customers' safety and choice. They will trigger after a monthly consumer spend of £150 or more.

August and February changes

The checks will commence in August this year and will initially trigger when an individual spends £500 a month. This amount will be reduced to £150 on 28 February 2025.

The UKGC will review consultation feedback and work closely with gambling businesses and credit reference agencies to review the impact on consumers and check the assessments in practice.

Gambling Commission CEO Andrew Rhodes said: 'As a gambling regulator, it’s vital that the introduction of new rules is based on evidence and takes into account the views of consumers and other interested parties.

'We have to get the balance right between protecting people from the potentially life-ruining effects of gambling-related harm and respecting the freedom of adults to engage in an activity that the vast majority do so without experiencing harm.'

Review of game design

The new regulations will also consider game design. The UKGC says it will review the speed of online slots to reduce their intensity and speed, make them fairer, and increase 'consumer understanding about the gameplay’.

The guidelines also call for a restriction on slam stops and the ability to play multiple games at once (such as blackjack and roulette tables).

Rhodes commented: 'We have listened to the views expressed in our engagement and in the consultation responses, and we have made changes while still ensuring that we deliver meaningful protections.

'We are also pleased to be taking forward a pilot of financial risk assessments and data collection, which together will ensure that we can make informed decisions about how these assessments can be implemented in a way that supports both consumer freedom and protections.'

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