Online gambling slot bets to be capped at £5 per spin

Online Slot Bets to Be Limited as Part of Gambling Reform

For the first time, limits will be imposed on how much people can wager on a single online slot spin, as part of a broader government effort to address gambling addiction. Adults aged 25 and over will face a maximum limit of £5 per spin, while those aged 18 to 24 will be restricted to £2 per spin.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) also plans to introduce a statutory levy on gambling companies to fund addiction treatment, stating the measures aim to enable people to “gamble safely.” However, the Betting and Gaming Council, the industry’s primary lobbying group, warned that the government risks “losing perspective” with these changes.

According to GamCare, addiction to online gambling slots has surged since the Covid pandemic. Data from the National Gambling Helpline shows that 45% of the 6,697 callers in 2023-2024 cited issues with online slot games, up from 34% in 2020-2021.

“These games are highly repetitive, and we have many cases of people gambling through the night for extended periods,” said GamCare spokesperson Jon Armstrong. He added that the new restrictions acknowledge the need for greater protections for young people.

However, enforcing the rules may prove challenging. Former gambler Dan Chandler, now a therapist with Breakeven, noted that underage players often bypass age verification systems. “For instance, a 16-year-old could use a parent’s details to register but their own card for transactions,” Chandler explained.

The NHS has reported a sharp rise in gambling-related referrals, more than doubling compared to the same period last year. Gambling Minister Fiona Twycross emphasized the importance of stake limits to protect at-risk individuals, particularly young adults.

Online slots previously had no betting limits, a loophole that the government now seeks to close. “Gambling harm can destroy finances, relationships, and lives,” Twycross said, highlighting the introduction of a legally mandated levy on the betting industry to fund addiction treatment.

The mandatory levy, expected to raise £100 million annually, will allocate 50% to NHS care, 30% to public health campaigns and prevention, and 20% to research. The levy will range from 0.1% to 1.1% of a firm’s gross gambling yield, depending on the sector.

The Betting and Gaming Council expressed support for the proposals but criticized the tone of the announcement, suggesting it caters to “anti-gambling prohibitionists.”

The measures are part of a government response to a consultation conducted between October 2023 and January 2024, aiming to address gambling harms comprehensively.