The online gambling industry in the UK is one of the largest ones in the world. New operators are flocking to the highly regulated market, and the regulator keeps its terms strict. This has resulted in highly regulated operators, with the top casinos constantly fulfilling players’ wishes.
What’s great about this market is that it constantly evolves. The regulator—UKGC—is always coming up with new ideas to keep players safe. Many operators have implemented them, while some have decided to leave the market.
Who Regulated the UK Online Gambling Market?
All activities on the market are regulated by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission. This governing body creates, reviews, and implements gambling regulations, while issuing licenses as well. It’s held in the highest regard in the gaming industry. The UKGC is strict when it comes to its terms. There have been many occasions where it fines operators for breaking or not following the rules.
It’s safe to say that operators such as Karamba casino have so far managed to fulfil the UKGC’s expectations. Others have not been so compliant. New rules have flooded the market in recent years, resulting in some operators such as Mansion shutting down. 32Red and Platinum Gaming have been fined heavily for their operations which go against the UKGC’s commitment to protecting players. New regulations have pushed operators out of the market, yet some, like Karamba, have adapted well.
There’s no way to cheat the UKGC. Operators will face fines for not following the rules. That’s a commitment the UKGC swears by, and will continue protecting players in the years ahead.
What are UKGC’s Main Regulations?
Besides overseeing the market and all gambling activities, the UKGC has a lot of other responsibilities. Only licensed operators are allowed on the UK market. No casino without a license is able to offer its services to UK players. When choosing an online casino, you should always go for the ones licensed by the UKGC. In that way, you can be sure you’ll avoid dodgy casinos and keep your data safe. That’s a promise by the UK Gambling Commission, who often weeds out unlicensed casinos and punishes those who don’t follow the rules harshly.
The government agency also sets the age limit. It’s set at 18 for UK players. All casino platforms licensed by the UKGC are legally obliged to verify the age of their customers. This is known as the KYC check, and requires sending documents such as your ID to verify whether you’re old enough to gamble.
Another important regulation in UKGC’s rulebook is the prevention of fraud and money laundering. All casinos licensed by the governing body must pass extensive KYC checks and anti-fraud measures. This process also helps identify criminal individuals and players who are vulnerable to gambling addiction.
The UK government takes responsible gambling seriously. It also holds cross-industry initiatives such as the Safer Gambling Week every year, promoting ideas on safe gambling and helping individuals with gambling problems. All UKGC-licensed operators must offer responsible gambling tools. Among them are tools for self-exclusion and deposit limits, as well as budget and gambling time limits.
Recent UKGC Regulation Updates
The United Kingdom Gambling Commission is constantly introducing new rules that boost safety and consumer choices. As of May 2024, there are new rules that include reducing the intensity of online games. The governing body has also tightened processes for age verification and improved customer choices over gambling marketing.
Reasons for these updates are simple. Businesses must adapt to a shifting regulatory landscape that aims to keep players safe. While the new rules have been criticized, operators must evolve.
- In late 2023, the UKGC unveiled a new service named Tell us something in confidence. As the name suggests, it’s a new reporting mechanism for players who have spotted any illegal activity.
- Another regulatory update are new online slot stake limits. From September 2024, the maximum slot stake per spin will be set at £5. All players aged 18-24 can play a maximum stake of £2 per spin.
Other slot rules will soon come in effect. The UKGC will ban slot features that speed up time for a result to be shown. These include turbo features or the so-called slam stops, as well as autoplay. All audio or visual celebrations that return less than your stake (or equal to it) will be banned as well. Slot games with spin speeds of less than 5 seconds will soon be banned too. These rules are set to come into effect in January 2025, giving operators plenty of time to adapt to the new rules.
There’s been a lot of rambling in the industry in regards to these new initiatives and rule changes. However, they’re introduced for the greater good. Gambling addiction is a disease that spreads fast, and with the new rules, young players won’t be able to go all-in or bet high amounts that will see their bankrolls depleted.
How Will the New Rules Affect Operators?
It’s early to say, but there has been a lot of talk of operators leaving the UK market. Some will adapt, others will try their luck elsewhere. The UKGC doesn’t expect for the market to falter in the future. The new regulations are aimed at keeping players safe. New operators will have to understand this when offering their services to UK players. Considering the size of the market, it’s difficult to expect that new casinos won’t be able to adapt.
There’s a lot of time for operators and developers to adapt to the new rules. The UKGC scans the market and constantly changes its rules to give players more control over gambling. They ensure that players don’t receive marketing they don’t want, and that, according to experts, is the way to go forward.
It remains to be seen how the market looks after the new guidelines take effect. But, considering the spread of gambling addiction, especially among minors, operators will have to adapt to continue servicing the UK market.