UK Sets £2 Maximum Stake for Under-25s in Online Slots

In a groundbreaking move, the UK government unveiled today, February 23, its new regulations on online slot machines, introducing maximum stake limits for players aged 18-24 at £2 per spin and those over 25 at £5.

Scheduled for implementation in September, these measures represent the first-ever imposition of maximum stakes for online slots in the UK.

The government hails this as a pivotal moment in the oversight of online gambling.

Following secondary legislation, the stake limits will be enforced starting September this year.

A six-week transition period allows operators to adhere to the general £5 limit, followed by an additional six weeks for technical adjustments ensuring full compliance with the lower stake limit.

The decision to implement stake limits comes after a 10-week consultation, during which most respondents, including industry experts, academics, treatment providers, and individuals, supported the proposal, emphasizing the need to mitigate gambling-related harm.

This move was initially proposed in the government's Gambling Act white paper from April last year.

The Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) expressed the intention to establish stake limits, with the consultation exploring limits between £2 and £15 per spin.

Today's announcement confirms the government's commitment to lower limits on the scale.

Gambling minister Stuart Andrew highlighted the evidence revealing a significantly higher problem gambling rate for online slot games and emphasized the vulnerability of young adults to gambling-related harm.

The decision to set a lower stake limit for individuals aged 18-24 is grounded in statistics, with the NHS reporting an 8.7% problem gambling rate in this age group.

The government cites lower disposable income, ongoing neurological development affecting risk perception, and "common life stage factors" such as managing money for the first time as contributing factors.

The evidence also indicates a stronger link between gambling-related harm and suicide among young adults.

GambleAware CEO Zoë Osmond welcomed the new limits, particularly praising the decision to set a lower stake limit for younger adults.

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) also welcomed the move but urged caution, emphasizing the potential impact on the industry and customers.

BGC CEO Michael Dugher stressed that such measures come with costs and may impact industry members, urging a comprehensive approach to regulation to maintain a balance and prevent customers from turning to unsafe, unregulated online markets.

These stake limits are part of a broader set of measures proposed in the white paper, including a statutory levy for research, prevention, and treatment and financial risk checks.

The government aims to strike a balance between player protection and industry success, with further details on the white paper measures expected soon.