In a significant move to curb gambling harms, the UK Government has announced new stake limits for online slot games, set to take effect in September 2024. Young adults aged 18-24 will be restricted to a maximum stake of £2 per spin, while those aged 25 and over will face a £5 limit.
This landmark decision aims to align online gaming more closely with land-based casinos, which already have statutory limits. The change comes in response to evidence showing that online slots are highly addictive, leading to severe losses and extensive gambling sessions.
The Rt Hon Stuart Andrew MP, Minister for Gambling, highlighted the necessity of these measures, pointing out the disproportionately high rates of problem gambling among young adults.
This demographic not only shows a higher propensity for gambling-related issues but also has unique vulnerabilities due to their life stage and lower income levels.
Gambling Minister Stuart Andrew stated: “Although millions of people gamble safely every single day, the evidence shows that there is a significantly higher problem gambling rate for online slot games.
We also know that young adults can be more vulnerable when it comes to gambling-related harms, which is why we committed to addressing both of these issues in our white paper.
The growing popularity of online gambling is clear to see, so this announcement will level the playing field with the land-based sector and is the next step in a host of measures being introduced this year that will protect people from gambling harms.
Evidence from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities shows that young adults can be particularly vulnerable to gambling-related harm, with under 25s having the highest average problem gambling score of any age group.”
GambleAware CEO Zoë Osmond said, “We welcome the Government’s announcement to introduce lower online stake limits for under-25s as an important mechanism to protect young people. Our research shows a concerning trend with this age group experiencing an increase in harm arising from gambling, and online slots are very high-risk products.”
Following secondary legislation, the limits will come into force in September this year. There will be a six-week transition period for operators to become compliant with the general £5 stake limit rules, followed by a further six weeks for the development of any necessary technical solutions to ensure operators are fully compliant with the lower stake limit of £2 for young adults aged 18-24.
Although most people gamble without issue, the restrictions introduced today are just some of the proposals set out in the Government’s white paper to modernise the gambling sector and make it fit for the digital age. This includes the introduction of a statutory levy for research, prevention, and treatment, as well as financial risk checks designed to prevent catastrophic, life-changing losses.
For more information and guides regarding responsible gambling, view our dedicated section on problem gambling.