(qlmbusinessnews.com via theguardian.com – – Thur, 27th April 2023) London, Uk – –
Much anticipated shakeup to include 1% levy on industry revenue, affordability checks and slot machine stake limits
Proposals to tighten regulation of online gambling have been published by the government, in a long-awaited shake-up of laws passed before smartphones put 24-hour casino games and sports betting in every pocket.
After multiple delays, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sports (DCMS) released a white paper on Thursday morning, laying out its blueprint for regulating the modern gambling industry.
The culture minister Lucy Frazer told the House of Commons that gambling could wreck lives and ministers were “bringing our pre-smartphone regulations into the present day with a gambling white paper for the digital age”.
The proposals include:
A 1% mandatory levy on industry revenues.
Tougher affordability checks to prevent huge losses.
Online slot machine stakes capped at between £2 and £15.
Curbing “free spin” and “bonus” offers.
Measures to slow down online casino games.
More resources for the Gambling Commission.
Plans for a gambling ombudsman.
Some of the measures – such as slot machine stakes and bonus offers – will go out for further consultation, signalling fresh delay to a process that began in late 2020, when the government launched a review promised in Boris Johnson’s 2019 election manifesto.
By Rob Davies
