Gambling News | 30 Jan 2025

The most recent consultation has been launched by the Gambling Commission.

A consultation procedure to revise the technical requirements and testing for land-based gambling machines has been initiated by the Gambling Commission.  "Intended to make gambling in Britain safer and fairer" is the stated goal.
 Consultation with the Gambling Commission
 A social responsibility guideline for gamers and five standards for gaming machines are being proposed.

 Time and money restrictions, as well as the logic behind them, safer gaming messaging, and showing net position and session durations are all possibilities.

 With the goal of eliminating "obsolete material," the Commission is revising its technical requirements and testing procedures for gaming machines.

 The authority is also thinking about harmonising the twelve different technological standards for gaming machines.  Additionally, the format of the standard will be revised to make it "more consistent" and to clarify the Commission's technical specifications for software and remote gaming even more.

 In a statement, Tim Miller, the executive director for research and policy of the Gambling Commission, acknowledged that new regulations affecting machine design can potentially incur significant expenses.

 Consumers, gambling companies, and other stakeholders are being asked by the Commission to "share evidence that will assist us in measuring both the likely regulatory impacts of the proposed changes and the likely costs of implementing them," according to Miller.  In order to make a solid determination on whether the benefits to consumers are proportionate to the costs, this evidence will be crucial.  

 The public hearing will begin on January 29 and end on May 20. It is anticipated to last for sixteen weeks.  The Commission has sparked a third consultation as part of the reforms outlined in its white paper.

 Review of the white paper and talks with the Gambling Commission
 An overhaul of the UK's regulatory structure was outlined in a white paper produced last year by the UK gambling watchdog, which reviewed the Gambling Act.

 In 2005, the Gambling Act was first enacted.  The previous Conservative administration began the review in an effort to modernise standards, increase consumer rights, and combat industrial exploitation.

 In response to recommendations made in the white paper, the Commission has taken action on several fronts.

 Limits on the amount that can be wagered at online slot machines and a legislative fee to support healthcare, education, and research are among these measures.  An operationally independent gambling ombudsman role has been proposed in the white paper as a means to safeguard customers.

 More affordability checks for internet service providers have also been implemented as a result of the white paper.  The monthly net gaming deposit requirement for players who made "passive" checks of £150 in August of last year will be raised to £500 in February by several top-tier operators.

 "Done with consultations."
 While she applauded the Commission's white paper last year, gambling-related harms all-party parliamentary group (APPG) head Carolyn Harris voiced her disapproval of more discussions on implementing the measures it proposed.

 "We don't need more consultations," Harris stated in April of last year.  It's been 2.5 years since the evaluation.  After 18 years of gambling industry control over this agenda, we need quick action, quick implementation of the suggestions, and fast legislative change where it's needed.

 Regulations to slow down the "speed and intensity" of iGaming items were unveiled in January.  It forbade the use of "turbo" and "slam shots," which shorten the time it takes to see results.  Other restrictions were the ability for operators to play multiple items simultaneously and the use of audio or visual celebration for returns equal to or less than stake bets.

 These regulations were originally put in place for slot machines in 2021, but they have since been expanded to cover other casino activities including poker and bingo.