UK announces mandatory levy and online slot limits

The government has taken its first steps towards strengthening gambling harm legislation today, confirming plans to implement a statutory levy on gambling profits and online slot stake limits to help tackle the issue of gambling addiction.

- Government to bring forward statutory levy as first step to strengthening harmful gambling protections

- Mandated levy to generate £100 million for the research, prevention and treatment of gambling harms, with half of funding to directly benefit NHS-led gambling treatment system

- Government also confirms online slot stake limits of £5 for over 25s and £2 for young adults aged 18 to 24

Gambling Minister Baroness Twycross has outlined how a levy on gambling operators will be designed and implemented as the government moves forward on its manifesto commitment to reduce gambling harm.

The landmark levy will be charged to all licensed operators and will guarantee increased, ringfenced and consistent funding to prevent and tackle gambling harm.

Under the current voluntary system not all gambling companies contribute equally, with some operators paying as little as £1 a year towards research, prevention and treatment. The new mandatory levy will ensure all operators contribute a fair share.

The Gambling Minister has also confirmed that the government will introduce stake limits for online slots, a higher-risk gambling product associated with large losses, long sessions, and binge play.

Stake limits will be set at £5 per spin for adults aged 25 and over and £2 per spin for 18-24 year olds. Evidence from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities and the Gambling Survey for Great Britain shows young adults can be particularly vulnerable to gambling related harm with under 25s having one of the highest proportion of respondents scoring 8 or more on the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) of any age group.

Minister for Gambling, Baroness Twycross said:

"Gambling harm can ruin people’s finances, relationships, and ultimately lives. We are absolutely committed to implementing strengthened measures for those at risk, as well as providing effective support for those affected."

"The introduction of the first legally mandated levy will be instrumental in supporting research, raising awareness and reducing the stigma around gambling-related harm."

"We are also helping to protect those at risk, with a particular focus on young adults, by introducing stake limits for online slots."

"These measures will help build an NHS fit for our future and strengthen protections whilst also allowing people to continue to gamble safely."

From October 2023 to January 2024, the government sought views from clinicians, academics, the industry and the wider public on how the levy should be designed and implemented.

In its response to this consultation, the government has confirmed 50% of all funding generated will be directed to NHS England and appropriate bodies in Scotland and Wales to develop a comprehensive support and treatment system. This will include referrals and triage, through to recovery and aftercare.

Prevention is a crucial part of the government’s efforts to tackle gambling harm. 30% of levy funding will go towards investment in this area, which could include measures such as national public health campaigns and training for frontline staff. The government is taking the time to get the important decision on the future of prevention right and will publish next steps in the coming months.

The remaining 20% of funding will be directed to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the Gambling Commission to develop bespoke Research Programs on Gambling, undertaking vital research to inform future policy and regulation.

Claire Murdoch, NHS national director for mental health, said:

"Problem gambling can completely ruin lives and the issue has skyrocketed, with NHS services treating record numbers and our latest data showing a staggering 129% increase in service referrals compared with the same period last year."

"I am delighted to welcome this commitment to a mandatory gambling levy which the NHS, bereaved families and the voluntary sector have been calling for so we can treat this growing problem – and we will continue to work with government to do all we can to protect problem gamblers from this billion-pound industry."

Professor Henrietta Bowden-Jones, National Clinical Advisor on Gambling Harms at NHS England, said:

"Gambling harms have a devastating effect on people’s lives. We know that 2.5% of the population are gambling in a severe and harmful way but many more are affected, whether family members or gamblers already experiencing negative consequences but below the clinical threshold."

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UK Gambling Commission launches new gambling survey

The U.K. Gambling Commission today launched a new gambling survey which is set to become one of the largest in the world and establish a new baseline for understanding gambling behavior in Britain.

The first annual report of the Gambling Survey for Great Britain, produced by National Center for Social Research and the University of Glasgow, features responses from 9,804 people but will increase to around 20,000 by next year.

The publication provides greater insight into attitudes and gambling behaviors – presenting a fuller picture, illuminating participation rates, the type of gambling activities participated in, experiences and reasons for gambling, and the consequences that gambling can have on individuals and others close to them.

Tim Miller, Executive Director of Research and Policy, said: “One of our aims as a regulator is to ensure we gather the best possible evidence on gambling – and today’s publication is the next significant step forward in our journey on creating a robust source of evidence for gambling in Great Britain.

“Data in this report represents the first year of a new baseline, against which future changes can be compared and as such will prove invaluable in deepening further our understanding of gambling across the country.”

Professor Patrick?Sturgis, Professor of Quantitative Social Science at the London School of Economics, added: "The new design of the Gambling Survey for Great Britain will significantly enhance the evidence base on patterns and trends in gambling behaviour.

“With an annual sample size of 20,000 individual interviews across the nations and regions of Great Britain, the survey will provide researchers and policy makers with fine-grained and timely data across a broad range of key indicators.

“Using a push-to-web mixed mode design and random probability sampling from the Postcode Address File, the survey implements?state-of-the-art methodology to a very high standard."

As part of a drive to ensure the new statistics are used correctly the Commission has published guidance on how this data can be interpreted. For example, estimates presented in this report are not directly comparable with results from prior surveys due to the differing methodology, including a bigger sample size. The Commission will always robustly tackle any misuse of official statistics and our guidance sets out how we do this.

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Playtech extends partnership with BoyleSports until 2028

Playtech has today announced that it has further extended its agreement with BoyleSports, a leading online sports betting and gaming provider, until 2028.

Playtech is pleased to announce an early extension of its original agreement with BoyleSports, which was initially set to run until 2025. This partnership, spanning across the U.K. and Ireland, has seen Playtech continue to provide a dedicated casino tab, an exclusive live casino, and its award-winning bingo and poker content.

This extension ensures that Playtech will remain the exclusive provider for BoyleSports’ live casino offering until 2025 whilst also maintaining exclusivity over BoyleSports’ live casino branded tables as well as Poker and Bingo until the end of 2028.

Steve Payne, Gaming Director at BoyleSports commented; “We are delighted to extend our partnership with Playtech for another four years. Having had a strong and successful partnership with Playtech for many years now, we see this extension as an exciting opportunity to continue growing our business. We are passionate about creating the best possible player experience across all verticals, and we remain confident that this continued partnership with Playtech will enable us to do exactly that.”

Panos Scoursis, Commercial Director at Playtech said; “We are thrilled to extend our partnership with BoyleSports and look forward to continuing to deliver innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers. This partnership is a testament to our commitment to delivering high-quality gaming experiences to our customers while maintaining our commitment to responsible gaming.”

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ICE registration opens as organisers predict record attendance for last London edition

Registration to attend what will be the last edition of ICE held in London prior to its relocation to Barcelona in 2025, has opened. The free exhibition pass to be part of what will be an historic edition of the world’s largest and most international gaming expo can be secured online.

Marking the countdown to ICE which is being held across 6 – 8 February at ExCeL London, a venue which has hosted the event since 2013, Clarion Gaming Managing Director Stuart Hunter said: “2024 will be a poignant occasion for everyone associated with the ICE brand as the international industry bids farewell to London and prepares for the next chapter of the ICE success story when the show opens in Barcelona in January 2025.

“We are anticipating another record attendance with industry professionals drawn by the 600+ exhibitors who will be present, the thousands of product launches which are timetabled to coincide with the show and the opportunity to engage with leading international thought leaders, decision makers and regulators across all gaming sectors and verticals courtesy of the ICE VOX learning platform.”

He added: “In keeping with our 2024 ICE creative we are expecting more visitors than ever before motivated by the desire to make more connections, gain more inspiration and benefit from more learning.

“The market looks to ICE for solutions and it’s clear that the event plays a pivotal role for the international gaming industry supply chain of innovators, service providers and operators who view ICE as their most important business event of the year.”

The decision to relocate ICE and sister show iGB Affiliate to Barcelona was taken following an exhaustive six-month process competitive bid process which was overseen by an independent external agency and endorsed by the ICE Advisory Board comprising a cross-section of major international brands active in both online and land-based gaming. The inaugural editions of ICE Barcelona and iGB Affiliate Barcelona will take place at the 240,000 sqm capacity Fira de Barcelona from 20 to 22 January 2025.

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UK Gambling Commission publishes Gambling Act Review

The U.K. Gambling Commission today published the advice it has provided to Government as part of the Gambling Review.

The focus of the advice has been to further protect those at risk of experiencing gambling harm while also making gambling fairer for all consumers. The advice highlights both recommendations to Government and commitments by the Commission.

The Commission, as statutory advisor to the Secretary of State on gambling, has reviewed evidence from a wide range of sources in putting together our advice to Government and we make a number of commitments for significant strengthening of the requirements on operators. As part of this the Commission will consult on safety measures to:

Ensure bonus offers and incentives do not lead to excessive or harmful gambling

Set further product controls for safer online games

Require operators to identify and take action for financially vulnerable consumers and to tackle significant unaffordable gambling through frictionless checks that are not disruptive for consumers.

In addition, recommendations for Government set out that there is a need for legislative change to:

Set stake limits for online slots

Create an independent ombudsman to fill the gap for consumers to seek redress when they have been treated unfairly

Introduce a statutory levy to provide effective and sustainable funding for research, education and treatment and;

Enable a better-funded, future-proofed regulator, well equipped to tackle illegal gambling and to build new data informed approaches to make gambling safer and ensure operator compliance.

“The gambling industry has changed significantly since 2005 and our advice sets out changes that will ensure Britain is the safest and fairest place to gamble in the world,” said Andrew Rhodes, Gambling Commission CEO.

“The review is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver positive change for gambling in Great Britain and for all people impacted by it. Everyone at the Commission welcomes today’s publication of the White Paper and is determined to work with Government and partners to make these changes a reality. Given the correct powers and resources, the Gambling Commission can continue to make gambling safer, fairer and crime free. This White Paper is a coherent package of proposals which we believe can significantly support and protect consumers, and improve overall standards in the industry.

"As the detailed implementation of the review now begins, we will also be reiterating to all operators that the Commission will strongly maintain its focus on consumer protection and compliance.”

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ICE London 2023 set to break records

Clarion Gaming owners of ICE London have confirmed that the 2023 edition of the show (7–9 February) will be the biggest on record occupying 51,466 square meters of net space, exceeding the previous high of 49,690 square meters set in 2020. In total ICE will occupy 41 halls of its ExCeL London home with sister show iGB Affiliate London occupying the remaining three halls.

Stuart Hunter, Managing Director of Clarion Gaming confirmed the scale of the experience awaiting gambling industry professionals in February. He stated: “ICE London and sister show iGB Affiliate London will be occupying the entirety of ExCeL. That means all of the North and South side exhibition halls, every meeting room and all of the International Conference Centre at ExCeL which will host ICE VOX, the World Regulatory Briefing and the International Casino Conference. In very simple terms there’s not a square mm of space left.”

He added: “Whilst ICE London 2022 was a tremendous success the fact remains that nothing compares with the return of a full-scale edition of ICE featuring all of the major supplier brands to the land-based sector. Having ExCeL bursting with the creativity and the energy which drives the international gaming industry is a fantastic prospect. A full size, dynamic ICE on its traditional dates is something that all sectors of the industry are looking forward to participating in.

“ICE is vital to the global business more so because the industry has waited 3-years for its return: as a consequence, the eyes of the gaming world will be focussed on what many industry commentators are now referring to as World Gaming Week a description based on the volume and variety of high-level meetings, sector leading conferences, content masterclasses and networking that takes place over the period that the global industry meets and comes together in London.”

As well as providing a professional home for the industry’s major brands, Clarion Gaming’s Pitch ICE program offers up to 14 start-ups the opportunity to showcase their solutions and innovative approaches in front of investors and visitors attending ICE London. Successful companies secure a free of charge pod on the Pitch ICE Pavilion for the duration of the show and the opportunity to take to the ICE stage and pitch to potential investors. ICE visitors will also have access to the award-winning Consumer Protection Zone, the ICE Esports Arena, the International Casino Conference, World Regulatory Briefing, the ICE VOX Masterclass program and the High Street Hub, a dynamic new show floor feature developed in partnership with the Gambling Business Group and dedicated to licensed street gaming.

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APCW Perspectives: Dreaming of a white paper Christmas

In our last show of the year, discussion includes the continued delays and empty promises about the UK Gambling Act Review White Paper. Then we turn our attention to the Gambling Commission, which can't seem to follow its own advice.

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William Hill transforms in-shop betting experience in UK

William Hill has transformed the in-shop betting experience for its customers following Saturday’s opening of a state-of-the-art, digital-only shop in Leeds.

Ex-Leeds and England goalkeeper Nigel Martyn, former Yorkshire and England cricketer Craig White and ex-Leeds Rhinos player Stevie Ward attended the relaunch of William Hill’s Vicar Lane venue, which promises an unrivalled immersive and interactive betting experience not seen before in betting shops.

The transformed shop in Leeds will provide William Hill customers with a range of exciting, new digital opportunities, including:

Digital only – William Hill will be going paperless across the shop
Integrated research table – customers can access digital versions of the Racing Post at William Hill’s new research table
Charging stations – customers will be able to charge their phones wirelessly while in the shop
Scent solutions – inspired by casinos, computer-driven scents configured to cover the entire shop have been installed
William Hill also placed delivering innovations in player safety at the heart of the relaunch, with the introduction of a player safety/customer service area named ‘Own Your Game,’ where customers and staff can privately interact around safer gambling issues and the various support measures available.

The leading bookmaker will also have access to real-time footfall information via a dashboard to understand customer dwell time and peak periods. Elsewhere, William Hill has introduced gantry cameras, providing access to which betting materials customers are engaging with on the shop floor to help tailor popular broadcast content, while also trialling the use of body cameras to ensure safety of its staff.

“We’re delighted to be able to offer our customers in Leeds such an innovative and exciting digital-focused shop,” said Ben McCann, Head of Marketing – Retail & Omni. “Being able to utilise the new digital features on offer will make for a far more enjoyable betting experience, and one that will appeal greatly to our existing customers while also helping to attract a new audience in the process.”

William Hill is set to roll out a similar digital-focused shop in Glasgow later this month.

“We are presenting a brand new, player-centric betting shop environment that delivers a fun, immersive and digital experience, with innovation at its core,” said Garry Fenton, William Hill’s UK Retail Director. “As well as offering our customers a wide range of cutting-edge digital features, we’ve also ensured that innovations in player safety have been key to this transformation. The relaunch in Leeds was a huge success and we look forward to bringing the same experience to other William Hill betting shops around the UK soon.”

Local Leeds sporting heroes Martyn, White and Ward all immersed themselves on Saturday in the digital experience that the new shop provides and they were impressed by what they saw.

“It’s been fantastic to see how William Hill are progressing the in-shop betting experience for its customers and great to see the innovation involved,” said Nigel Martyn. “Leeds fans looking to place a bet in-shop are set for a completely transformed digital experience and one that will certainly improve the way that they back their club.”

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APCW Perspectives: UK Gambling Act review approaches

As we approach the end of the year, the review of the U.K. Gambling Act also closes in. This week, we get a preview of some of the issues and questions which will be addressed by the political powers, all of whom seem dead set on dismantling our industry in Britain.

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Dates are set for 2021 ICE London and iGB Affiliate London

Clarion Gaming has confirmed that the next edition of ICE London and iGB Affiliate London will now open in June at ExCeL London, U.K. ICE London will run across 29, 30 June and 1 July with the co-located iGB Affiliate London taking place 1 and 2 July. iGB Live 2021 will also be moving, to 28 September to 1 October, Amsterdam, ensuring a cohesive and effective events calendar for all audiences.

As a consequence of the ongoing impact of Covid-19 and the continuing uncertainty in our markets, the decision to move the world’s leading gaming industry and affiliate events into the summer of 2021 has been necessary and follows close consultation with the international community of stakeholders many of whom requested more time for both the industry and the world economy to stabilise including an easing of regulations covering international business travel.

Kate Chambers, Managing Director, Clarion Gaming, said: “Our initial proposal was to migrate ICE London and iGB Affiliate London from their historical February date to April 2021 due to force majeure. Subsequently, we have taken additional steps to review this in light of the government’s updated measures announced on 22 September 2020 and in the interests of our stakeholders. As a result, we have secured a later date week commencing 28 June.

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