Publication
17 Apr 2023 ·
United Kingdom
Gambling Law Reform Tracker
10 min read
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Reforms Tracker
Set out below are the key steps that have been undertaken so far in implementing the UK Government’s gambling law reform proposals:
| Summary of proposal | Delivery | Responsibility | Status |
| Financial risk checks: Introduction of rules on financial risk / affordability checks | Gambling Commission powers | Gambling Commission | Gambling Commission consultation closed on 18 October 2023 and response was published on 1 May 2024. Requirements for ‘financial vulnerability checks’ and obligations for the largest operators to participate in a pilot for ‘financial risk assessments’ to be introduced by updates to the LCCP, effective 30 August 2024. Pilot to test the practical issues of the introduction of ‘financial risk assessments’ before a final decision is made on whether and how these take place. More information is available in this blog. |
| Online slots stake limits: Introduction of maximum stake limits for online slots games | Secondary legislation | Government / DCMS | DCMS consultation closed on 4 October 2023 and the response was published on 23 February 2024. £5 per spin limit and £2 per spin limit for 18-24 year olds introduced with effect from 9 April 2025 and 21 May 2025 respectively. These changes are implemented under The Gambling Act 2005 (Operating Licence Conditions) (Amendment) Regulations 2025. |
| Online game design rules: Review of online game design rules, including requirements in respect of game speeds | Gambling Commission powers | Gambling Commission | Gambling Commission consultation closed on 18 October 2023 and response was published on 1 May 2024. Updates to Remote Technical Standards implementing new game design rules and security control to apply from 17 January 2025. |
Changes to customer-led tools: Changes to improve uptake of customer-led tools (such as deposit limits)
| Gambling Commission powers
| Gambling Commission
| Gambling Commission Supplementary consultation on amendments to clarify the meaning of ‘deposit limits’ launched on 6 March 2025. The consultation will close on 30 April. |
| Bonuses: Introduction of restrictions on bonuses and other incentives | Gambling Commission powers | Gambling Commission | Gambling Commission consultation closed on 21 February 2024 and response was published on 26 March 2025. Mixed product promotional offers to be banned and a cap of 10 to be applied to wagering requirements. These changes will come into effect on 19 December 2025. |
| Direct marketing: Introduction of additional requirements in respect of opting-in to direct marketing | Gambling Commission powers | Gambling Commission | Gambling Commission consultation closed on 18 October 2023 and response was published on 1 May 2024. New LCCP requirement (5.1.12) requiring opt-in by channel and product to apply from 1 May 2025. This deadline was extended from the original implementation deadline (of 17 January 2025) as set out here. In the same announcement, the Commission published minor clarificatory amendments to the original wording of 5.1.12. |
Age verification on premises: Removal of exemption from carrying out age verification test purchasing for smallest gambling premises. | Gambling Commission powers | Gambling Commission | Gambling Commission consultation closed on 18 October 2023 and response was published on 1 May 2024. Exemption to be removed and updated LCCP will come into effect on 30 August 2024. |
| One customer view / data sharing: Introduction of requirement for mandatory data sharing between online operators on high-risk customers | Gambling Commission powers | Gambling Commission | Gambling Commission consultation closed on 18 October 2023. Awaiting publication of consultation response. |
| Risk messaging: Improvements in respect of messaging on gambling-related risks | Government action | Government / DCMS | Government working group to commence. |
| Football shirt sponsorship: Premier League to end front-of-shirt sponsorships by gambling firms | Voluntary commitment (Premier League policy to implement a ban) | Premier League | Implementation to commence from the end of the 2025/2026 football season. |
| Gambling Commission Fees: Review of Gambling Commission licence fees to ensure the Commission has the necessary resources to make more use of data in active enforcement and deliver commitments in the White Paper | Primary legislation and secondary legislation | Government / DCMS | DCMS consultation on reviewing fees due to take place in 2024. |
| Statutory levy: Introduction of a statutory levy paid by gambling operators to fund research, education and treatment of gambling harms | Secondary legislation | Government / DCMS | DCMS consultation closed on 14 December 2023 and response was published on 27 November 2024. The statutory levy to apply from 6 April 2025, with the Gambling Commission collecting it from October 2025. The levy will range from 0.1% of gross gambling yield to 1.1% of gross gambling yield depending on the type of licensee. These changes are implemented under The Gambling Levy Regulations 2025. |
| Gambling Ombudsman: Introduction of a new Gambling Ombudsman to deal with disputes and provide redress where a customer suffers losses due to operators’ social responsibility failure | Voluntary commitment with legislation if needed | TBC | The process for appointment was due to commence in spring/ summer 2023 with the expectation for the Ombudsman to be accepting complaints within a year. Awaiting update. |
Transparency of customer funds protection: Introduction of new requirement for gambling businesses to remind customers that their funds are not protected in the event of insolvency
| Gambling Commission powers
| Gambling Commission
| Gambling Commission consultation closed on 21 February 2024 and response was published on 4 February 2025. Where licensees have a ‘not protected’ rating, they must remind customers, once every six months, that their funds are not protected in the event of insolvency. This requirement will come into effect on 31 October 2025. |
| Frequency of regulatory returns: Changes so that all regulatory returns would have to be submitted to quarterly (as opposed to annually) | Gambling Commission powers | Gambling Commission | Gambling Commission consultation closed on 21 February 2024 and response was published on 27 March 2024. All licensees to now submit returns quarterly (all relevant changes now implemented). |
| Category D machine age limits: Introduction of age limit to play category D machines which mirror the mechanics of adult-only gaming machines (such as fruit machines) to 18 | Primary legislation | Government / DCMS | DCMS consultation closed on 4 October 2023 and response was published on 16 May 2024. Age limit of 18+ to be introduced. |
| Principles for determining financial penalties: Changes to the criteria for the Gambling Commission imposing a financial penalty and the methodology for determining the amount of a penalty | Gambling Commission powers | Gambling Commission | Gambling Commission consultation closed on 15 March 2024. Awaiting publication of consultation response. |
| Financial key event reporting: Changes to existing, and addition of new, key reporting requirements in respect of changes to finances, ownership and interests within gambling licensees | Gambling Commission powers | Gambling Commission | Gambling Commission consultation closed on 15 March 2024. Awaiting publication of consultation response. |
| Land-based casino licensing: Changes to increase gaming machine allowances for 1968 Act casinos; (ii) change the machine-to-table ratio for 1968 Act and 2005 Act Small casinos; (iii) change the size requirements for 1968 Act and 2005 Act Small casinos; and (iv) permit real event betting in 1968 Act casinos | Primary legislation and secondary legislation | Government / DCMS | DCMS consultation closed on 4 October 2023 and response was published on 16 May 2024. Draft Statutory Instruments published on 12 May 2025. 1968 Act casinos to be permitted to increase the number of their gaming machines to 80 if they meet the size requirements of a Small 2005 Act casino and smaller 1968 Act casinos to be permitted more than 20 machines on a pro rata basis commensurate to their size. Betting to be permitted in all casinos. |
| Cashless payments on gaming machines: Introduction of player protections, including account holder authorisation, a cashless maximum transaction value, minimum transaction times, bespoke safer gambling messaging, as well as the display of net position and session time | Secondary legislation and Gambling Commission powers | Government / DCMS and Gambling Commission | DCMS consultation closed on 4 October 2023 and response was published on 16 May 2024. Prohibition on the direct use of debit cards on gaming machines to be removed, subject to the introduction of appropriate player protection measures. |
| Machine allowances in arcades and bingo halls: Modifying the 80/20 machine rule ratio to 50/50 | Secondary legislation | Government / DCMS | DCMS consultation closed on 4 October 2023 and response was published on 16 May 2024. A 2:1 ratio of Category B to Category C and D gaming machines in arcades and bingo halls to be allowed, implemented on a device type basis. |
| Licensing authority fees: A review of the fee caps for premises licences for local authorities | Secondary legislation | Government / DCMS | DCMS consultation closed on 4 October 2023 and response was published on 16 May 2024. Fees cap to be increased by 10%, 20% or 30%. |
| Horserace Betting Levy: Beginning the review of the Horserace Betting Levy to ensure the appropriate level of funding for horse racing is maintained | Review outcomes will dictate | Government / DCMS (but they have encouraged the betting and racing industries to work together on a voluntary deal) | Due to be reviewed in 2024. |
Personal Management Licences: Extending the requirement to hold a PML
| Gambling Commission powers
| Gambling Commission
| Gambling Commission consultation closed on 18 October 2023 and response was published on 1 May 2024. LCCP licence condition 1.2.1 to be amended to: (a) clarify that CEOs/MDs (or equivalents) are likely to need to hold a PML; (b) require, for organisations with a Board, for the person responsible for chairing the Board to hold a PML; and (c) require the person responsible for a licensee’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing function to hold a PML. The changes come into effect on 29 November 2024. |
| Gaming machine technical standards: various updates to standards aimed at enabling consumers to use gaming machines safely throughout the customer journey | Gambling Commission powers
| Gambling Commission
| Gambling Commission consultation opened on 29 January 2025, and due to close on 20 May 2025.
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