They include:Ī statutory gambling operator levy to ensure that operators help fund treatment services and research, including through the NHS. The measures set out today will shield players in the grip of addiction from harm and hold gambling firms to account when they fail in their responsibility.

Last month, the Gambling Commission fined William Hill over £19 million for failures including allowing a customer to spend £23,000 in just 20 minutes.īetting companies are already required to prevent harm, but there have been repeated instances where they have allowed losses which the majority of the population could never afford. For example, one player was allowed to lose £70,000 over a 10-hour period, while one customer was allowed to place a £100,000 bet immediately, even though he had a £70,000 credit limit.Įstimates suggest that there are approximately 300,000 problem gamblers in the UK – and problem gambling rates are higher for players in online casino games than those playing in bingo halls, casinos and pubs.

Most people play without issue, but there are too many cases of addiction, catastrophic financial loss and, in some tragic cases, suicide. Technology has transformed the industry and people can bet 24 hours a day through ‘mobile virtual casinos’ in their pockets. Millions of people enjoy gambling every year - whether that be putting money on a horse, playing at a casino, or a bet on the football - and much of this is now done through smartphones. Problem gambling affects an estimated 300,000 people and can lead to people losing life-changing sums of money.Move will see Gambling Commission get tougher powers and follows recent high-profile fines against gambling operators for failing to protect people at risk.

Plans include a mandatory levy on betting firms to pay for treatment of addiction, new player protection checks and stake limits for online slots.

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