Gambling White Paper: Gambling Commission Timeline

Online protections
Proposed change How it will be delivered Next step Current status Implementation date
Affordability: Introduction of firmer rules on when online operators must carry out financial risk checks on customers. Gambling Commission powers (amendments to LCCP) Gambling Commission will be introducing a two-part system to identify customers at risk of gambling harm: (i) Light touch vulnerability checks; and (ii) frictionless financial risk assessments (pilot).

Light touch vulnerability checks will use publicly available data (like history of unpaid debts and  bankruptcy records) to identify risks of harm.

Frictionless financial risk assessments will be more detailed risk assessments, which will run as a pilot program first which would allow operators and credit agencies to test how they would share data as it relates to identifying gambling harm. The pilot of this system will only involve the largest operators.

The Gambling Commission Summer 2023 consultation closed on 18 October 2023. The Gambling Commission recently published its response, here, as it relates to introducing a two-part system to identify customers at risk of hambling harm, starting in August 2024. Light touch vulnerability checks will come into force at a higher threshold (i.e., £500 net deposits in a rolling 30 day period) from 30 August 2024, before reducing to a lower threshold (i.e., £150 net deposits in a rolling 30 day period) on 28 February 2025.

The pilot of the frictionless financial risk assessments is expected to run from 30 August 2024 to 31 March 2025 (although this could extend to 30 April 2025).

Online game design: Review of game speeds and the removal of features which make online games riskier. Gambling Commission powers (amendments to remote technical standards) Assessment of initial impact of changes Link to the initial assessment of online game design changes. N/A
The Gambling Commission has revised the remote gambling and software technical standards (RTS) in order to make online gambling fairer and will now introduce the following measures:

i. a minimum 5 second game speed for all non-slot games;

ii. a requirement for operators to display net spend and net time information for casino games;

iii. a ban on autoplay for all online gambling products;

iv. a ban on operators offering features that facilitates playing multiple simultaneous games (as it relates to casino products);

v.  a ban on audio or visual effects associated with a win of returns less than or equal to the amount staked (which now extends to casinos and not just slots);

vi. a ban on features that reduce the time for a result to be known (e.g., turbo and quick spin) to all online gambling products; and

vii. new information security controls found in ISO27001:2022.

 

The Gambling Commission Summer 2023 consultation closed on 18 October 2023.  The Gambling Commission recently published its response, here, as it relates to new requirements on remote game designs which are due to come into force in 2025.

The revised RTS will come into force on 17 January 2025.

Updated requirements for security audits will come into effect on 31 October 2024 – meaning all annual security audits conducted after 01 November 2024 will need to be updated to the ISO27001:2022 standard.

Harm prevention: Potential introduction of mandatory data sharing about high risk customers between online operators to prevent harm. Gambling Commission powers (amendments to LCCP) Results of initial trial to be announced. Awaiting Government response. The Gambling Commission Summer 2023 consultation closed on 18 October 2023. TBC
Player-centric tool improvements: Consultation to take place on increasing uptake of such tools, including whether online deposit limits should be mandatory or opt-out (rather than opt-in). Gambling Commission powers (exact mechanism TBC) Awaiting Gambling Commission response. The Gambling Commission Autumn 2023 consultation closed on 21 February 2024. TBC
Marketing and advertising
Proposed change How it will be delivered Next step Current status Implementation date
Incentives: Requirement that bonuses and free bets are provided in a socially responsible manner which doesn’t increase the risk of harm. Gambling Commission powers (exact mechanism TBC) Awaiting Gambling Commission response. The Gambling Commission Autumn 2023 consultation closed on 21 February 2024. TBC
Football sponsorship: The Premier League will voluntarily end front-of-shirt sponsorships from gambling companies. Premier League policy – the Premier League announced its intention to withdraw front-of-shirt gambling sponsorship on 13 April 2023 Premier League to implement ban Ban to be implemented at the end of the 2025/2026 football season. TBC
Dispute resolution and consumer redress
Proposed change How it will be delivered Next step Current status Implementation date
Ombudsman: Introduction of an ombudsman to deal with customer disputes and appropriate redress in the event of operators’ social responsibility failures. Voluntary initially, with legislation if needed Process for appointment to commence Process for appointment to commence in Spring/Summer 2023 with the intention that the ombudsman is managing complaints within a year. TBC
Land-based gambling
Proposed change How it will be delivered Next step Current status Implementation date
Cashless payments: Development of consultation options for cashless payments on gaming machines, including player protections Secondary legislation and Gambling Commission powers. The Government intends to implement measures which would, for instance:

i. remove the prohibition on the use of debit cards on gaming machines, subject to the introduction of appropriate player protection measures in light of the Gambling Commission’s review of the Gaming Machine Technical Standards;

ii. permit direct cashless payments made on gaming machines to a maximum transaction limit of £100;

iii. introduce the current deposit and payment limits to direct cashless payments on gaming machines (i.e., The deposit limits are currently set at £20 for Category B and C machines, and £2 for Category D machines. The committed payment limits are £10 for Category B1, B2, B3 and B3A machines, and £5 for Category B4 and C machines);

iv. require gaming machines that accept direct debit payments to implement minimum transaction time limits and monetary thresholds; and

v. require safer gambling communications on gaming machines that accept cashless payment.

The DCMS consultation Summer 2023, here, closed on 04 October 2023. The DCMS recently published its response here, as it relates to proposed cashless payment and player protection measures.

The Government will make changes through secondary legislation which would require a draft negative statutory instrument as it relates to removing the prohibition of the use of debit cards on gaming machines.

The Gambling Commission will consult on a number of player protection measures that may be included in their review of the Gaming Machine Technical Standards to ensure that appropriate frictions are in place when direct debit card payments are used.

TBC

Gambling Commission’s powers and resources

Proposed changes are all Government led

 

Children and young adults 

Proposed changes are all Government led