The rules and regulations surrounding gambling within the UK are under constant review to keep up with consumer demands and trends around how we bet.
The UK Gambling Commission is keen to ensure that gambling operators throughout the UK operate a responsible gambling policy. A big part of this is making sure that rules, regulations, and guidelines keep up with how people are betting, as this often changes due to marketing trends and changes in technology.
The latest report on gambling
To make sure that rules and regulations are as up-to-date as possible, there have to be regular reviews on how we are gambling throughout the UK and how betting trends have changed. For example, during the height of the lockdowns throughout the UK last year, there was an increase in the popularity surrounding online gambling. With people unable to go out and socialize/seek entertainment they turned to online services instead – which is where online casinos and betting came into play. Lots of casino operators reported record numbers of transactions throughout 2023 and this trend is likely to continue throughout the start of 2024. Although things might settle down now that physical bookmakers and land-based casinos are back open, there is no doubt that online betting and iGaming opportunities are more accessible than ever, which is what will help drive a consistent review of gambling regulations.
What did the report show?
As well as an increase in online casinos, the report showed a trend in the location of betting shops throughout the UK. It is estimated that around 20% of all gambling premises within the UK can now be found within the poorest areas of the country. According to a study by the University of Bristol, you are around 10 times more likely to find a betting shop in a poorer town than you are in a more affluent area. It also found that Glasgow, Liverpool, Middlesbrough, and London are the areas with the highest number of betting premises per capita. The location of betting shops alongside the trend for people being keen to use online gambling will undoubtedly have contributed to the Government’s decision to review the Gambling Act.
What are they likely to review?
The Gambling Commission and the Government carry out gambling reviews based on consumer trends and customer behavior. They have reviewed several betting services recently including things like The National Lottery. Earlier this year the minimum age for buying a ticket for The National Lottery was raised from 16 to 18. With The National Lottery being more accessible in physical shops and online, steps were taken to ensure that those that were younger could not place a bet – in line with lots of slot machines and all gambling websites.
One thing that has gone under consistent review is the use of slot machines and fixed-odds betting terminals. Previously there were not many regulations around this – which meant people could bet large amounts on a single spin or carry out lots of spins within a short amount of time. This could mean that the user lost control or didn’t keep on top of what they were spending – which goes against any gamble responsible guidelines that are in place. There have been reviews of these slot machines and fixed-odds betting terminals, which means that there are limits on how much can be spent in a single spin and how many spins could take place.
What changes will we see?
Each country has its own rules and regulations surrounding gambling and sports betting. However, when one country makes an announcement that works for them, others will likely follow suit. With online gambling, some countries are keen to switch off the auto-play of slot games. Auto-play allows people to simply click play and the game spins itself, making it hard to keep track of what is being spent. Instead, they are keen for each spin of the machine to be a physical action that the user has to make – so that they are in control and much more aware of what they are betting.
Although betting and online gambling aren’t going anywhere, the way we gamble will likely be changed and adapted. With technology ever-changing, placing bets is going to become more accessible and the games that are on offer will become more intricate and exciting. This will likely lead to more people wanting to participate in gambling and that is where regulations and guidelines come into play.
What does this mean for the future?
Although the onus is already on the gambling operator to ensure that safe and responsible gambling is practiced – this is likely to get stricter. There may be a removal of things like VIP schemes, which often encourage people to spend more money to be allowed access to exclusive games. Instead, gambling operators, especially those that operate online, will need to show that they have checked the user’s affordability. They will also need to look for patterns when it may show that someone is gambling more than they cannot afford to lose – for example, big bets on payday and then nothing else for the rest of the month.
Where physical casinos and bookmakers allow people to bet, operators will need to prove that they take steps to ensure that people practice responsible gambling. Some of this will be what they are spending but also checking the age of people that are placing bets. The age for placing bets in the UK is 18 and as such, places that host slot machines and other ways to place bets will need to prove that they have checked the age of those that are betting. If the trend of having betting shops in poorer towns is to continue then we need to make sure that the vulnerable and those with poor finances are not tempted to bet money that they cannot afford to lose.
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