Gambling Regulation in the UK set to get tighter

[News Hound]

The BBC has reported that the much discussed reforms to update the 2005 Gambling Act is set to go ahead

Read the full article here: Gambling Regulation in the UK set to get tighter - Casinomeister

 

[bamberfishcake]

'Woah, We're going to Curacao'

'Woah, across the Caribbean Sea'

'Woah, we're all turning to Crypto'

'Woah, thanks to the UKGC'

 

[satchnz]

'Woah, We're going to Curacao'

'Woah, across the Caribbean Sea'

'Woah, we're all turning to Crypto'

'Woah, thanks to the UKGC'

I’d normally give you a laughing emote but the direction that the UK industry is heading is fucking dismal.

 

[Deeplay]

£2 max bet limit is a given - only a matter of time before the UKGC pull it inline with bookies Fobts. Basically the end of online based UK gaming. I bailed out long ago - and never looked back. Can not see many casinos being left standing if (when) they push through all these changes.

 

[Lemon]

I'm assuming the max bet in land-based casinos will also be reduced to £2 on slots? Because anything else is fucking stupid.

They're adding two layers of protection when one is enough; limiting the amount you can deposit. Once you've set those limits you should be able to spend your money how you want to, whether it's £2.50 a spin, turbo play, auto-play, whatever you like. It's your money.

What they're doing is the equivalent of stopping you from going into a pub if you've got more than £20 in your pocket, in case you get drunk. And when you get inside you can only have half-pints of watered down lager, and you can only go up to the bar once every half-an-hour.

In fairness, the average bet in the UK is way below £2 and therefore a lot people won't really notice the incoming restrictions but so what? There should be somewhere you can go to play at stakes over £2 and why should I have to go to a casino and play 15-year old Novomatic slots on 90% to do that? I'd rather stay at home and gamble online where there's more choice.

They're serving a minority and impacting the majority with this bullshit. It's going to drive good, small operators out of the UK and cost people their jobs, and we'll all have to go to betting-chain online casinos such as William fucking Hill and play low-variance pish at their famously shite RTPs.

Huge opportunity opening up for unregulated casinos who are willing to accept UK players, thanks to this shower of a Government.

 

[The Dude]

Unfortunately, these ignorant moves by the UKGC and these nanny politics are boosting up the Russian mafia and the other crooks that target gamblers in the UK. You would think they'd be smarter than that. But they aren't.

The UK market is pretty much dead as far as I'm concerned.

Meanwhile Entain apparently doesn'tlike what I have said about them in our review for Ladbrokes, Bwin, etc., and the awards. I have been getting cease and desist emails from them to remove my content. What a freaking joke.

 

[kennygamerboy]

Unfortunately, these ignorant moves by the UKGC and these nanny politics are boosting up the Russian mafia and the other crooks that target gamblers in the UK. You would think they'd be smarter than that. But they aren't.

The UK market is pretty much dead as far as I'm concerned.

Meanwhile Entain apparently doesn'tlike what I have said about them in our review for Ladbrokes, Bwin, etc., and the awards. I have been getting cease and desist emails from them to remove my content. What a freaking joke.

The truth hurts for those cowboys

 

[slot_zombie]

My first thought was that it doesn't affect me as already 100% playing in Curacao.

Second thought that I shouldn't really have to play illegally just to get the full RTP and slotting experience, without Nanny breathing down my neck.

Last thought... we are all in the UK probably on borrowed time. I can't see Curacao lasting as an option in the long term, as the trickle of players becomes a mass exodus. It just won't be permitted. Pressure will be brought to bear at whatever level required to bring in basic KYC for the cryptos, restrict usage of VPNs etc.

Big business opportunity for a Crypto operation to set up in Cyberspace with no licensing whatsoever, serving the globe but especially unfortunates in the UK, Germany etc. However, I'm not sure that many of the mainstream providers would serve such a business, which means that we would end up with Betsoft, Rival and Kaga games. Solitaire would probably be a better option.

 

[Webzcas]

The UK Government is already looking at ways at controlling digital currency. They are getting all their ducks lined up.

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.

Soon no doubt, you won't be able to use your debit card to buy Crypto without jumping through lots of hoops with your bank.... ( Not a fact, just a guess on my part )

 

[goatwack]

They've been trying to tame that beast since Crypto's inception, and of course they'll do anything to have it centralized eventually. And with that comes 'consumer protection', albeit at the expense of Crypto's rock 'n' roll volatility, anonymity and all-round point of interest to begin with.

Don't much fancy digging out the BritCoin to play Tiki Tumble, however tempting

 

[slot_zombie]

The UK Government is already looking at ways at controlling digital currency. They are getting all their ducks lined up.

You do not have permission to view link Log in or register now.

.

Soon no doubt, you won't be able to use your debit card to buy Crypto without jumping through lots of hoops with your bank.... ( Not a fact, just a guess on my part )

Actually already a thing with most banks. TSB etc. have already completely banned cryptocurrency transactions.

 

[satchnz]

Actually already a thing with most banks. TSB etc. have already completely banned cryptocurrency transactions.

You mean banned the ability to transfer fiat to and from a crypto exchange? FFS.

 

[Deeplay]

Actually already a thing with most banks. TSB etc. have already completely banned cryptocurrency transactions.

Yup its getting harder - 2 banks and 1 challenger bank I use who used to be open with such things are now bringing down the hammer pretty hard on Crypto purchases. Also just be warned people Banks / carding intuitions in the UK are getting more and more trigger happy when it comes to adding a persons name to the CiFas database. I know more than one person who has been wrongly added to the Cifas DB and it can cause all kinds of issues.

RBS have recently blocked Luno -and 2 other banks I use are following suit with I have heard the likes of coinbase and so forth to be added soon to the ban list. Basicially the UK is begining to tell adults where they can and can not spend their own money. But for me personally I have all but moved on now from gambling and unless 3dice were to come up with a new deposit method I dont see myself spending much at all this year online gaming.

I do have an address in the EU but have not lived there for a few years and so no real way of proving my current address at that place - and can not be bothered pulling it all together so its kind of game over at the moment.

 

[k6kaysix]

I gamble land based in arcades (nowhere anywhere near what I used to)

They introduced a £2 stake limit, great that'll sort all the problem gambling out...what do you mean the slot providers can get away with introducing spin bar roulette, triple 0 roulette, premium play?! Never mind we'll just turn a blind eye to all that

Also the bookies may be forced to close at 10pm but the high street is now absolutely and utterly flooded with 24 hour arcades, the planners seem to instantly approve them with the key words 'low stake slot machines' and 'night shift workers enjoy a gamble!' - reality being they have the exact same FOBT machines as the bookies and if I was a night shift worker the only thing I would enjoy would be bed!

Even certain pub slot games have a 'premium play' option now, says it all really

Hope everyone is enjoying their 88% RTP £2 play Novomatic sessions in William Hill anyway! (and I haven't set foot in a bookies for about 2 years now, probably down even further to about 8.8% RTP these days)

 

[Chipkin9]

Ah, the good ol' UKGC and their focus on player protection and making sure we all gamble responsibly, all the while permitting casinos to run slots at 90% at their choosing. A bit ironic, no?

This £2 cap has zero effect on the responsible gambling tools already in place. Someone who has a daily deposit limit of £500 will still deposit their £500, they're now just not permitted to win as much because the UKGC say so.

I think I was lucky enough one time aeons ago to bet at £4 a pop. My balance was £700 and I was withdrawing at £500 regardless of the outcome. Hit the bouns on Captain Venture and it stiffed me with an £80 odd win

The point is, even as a low roller £0.25-£0.40, I would like the opportunity to bet as much as I like with my own money if the day ever comes around again.

Honestly, they couldn't give a shit about the player. All of the regulations they have set out are designed to target casinos who breach their rules (Intentionally or inadvertently) so they can sanction said casinos with a fine.

I'd love to know what the UKGC do with the multi millions they rake in each year with the fines they dish out.

Greedy grubby industry from top to bottom.

 

[Webzcas]

Also just be warned people Banks / carding intuitions in the UK are getting more and more trigger happy when it comes to adding a persons name to the CiFas database. I know more than one person who has been wrongly added to the Cifas DB and it can cause all kinds of issues.

Why would anyone who purchases Crypto on an exchange such as Coinbase or Binance or El Toro get added to the CiFas DB? That is seriously scary!

 

[Deeplay]

Why would anyone who purchases Crypto on an exchange such as Coinbase or Binance or El Toro get added to the CiFas DB? That is seriously scary!

I dont think its the actual buying but when you withdraw back to a bank account from say a crypto cashout. Comes under AML if a bank cant verifiy or track a deposit into a bank account. I remember a while back I got a payment from a family member to Paypal which i withdrew to my challenger bank. The bank within an hour put a hold on the account and I had to answer questions of where the money was from - whos paypal account it was etc. It was sorted in one chat and everything was verified fine - but it is such cases which can lead a bank to register a Cifas marker if they have any suspicions. And just reading up online this has happened more and more the past 2 years. Certain banks ect are more Cifas trigger happy than others.

Of course it works both ways and in theory Cifas works it does offer protection but woe unto those who get wrongly added as I know from others its never an easy route to challenge a marker for removal. Its a lot of hoops a person has to go through. And they are certain credit card companys who even with the slightest incorrect information on an application can place a marker.

All my accounts these days are locked down - and I rare if ever apply for credit other than the new s23 ultra i just ordered ;-) but it is something people need to be aware of. And with clamp down on cryptos coming it will get tighter.

 

[09237653]

What options are there for playing 'under the table'? had enough of this BS now.

 

[shadow123]

Only 5 options as far as I can see

Bow down and supply every thing demanded for SOW no matter how personal and intrusive
Open a new account and play until the SOW demands are made then tell the Casino to do one and close it, repeat until
out of casinos.
Go to the darkside and hope you get paid
Emigrate to a SOW free country, Russia perhaps
Pack in gambling and take up fishing (the UKGC preferred option)

 

[deleted20230517]

£2 max bet limit is a given - only a matter of time before the UKGC pull it inline with bookies Fobts. Basically the end of online based UK gaming. I bailed out long ago - and never looked back. Can not see many casinos being left standing if (when) they push through all these changes.

I think it was getting out of hand to be honest. Every corner a betshop. Everywhere you go either radio, television, online, your bombarded with casino commercials. So many addicts joining the club and even to the point of people gambling their last penny away followed with suicide.

 

[SpinUk]

I actually don’t think the £2 limit will come in - the UKGC despite appearnces arn’t that stupid surely. It would bankrupt the majority of smaller operators here and also push a massive amount of players to unregulated markets.

 

[satchnz]

I actually don’t think the £2 limit will come in - the UKGC despite appearnces arn’t that stupid surely. It would bankrupt the majority of smaller operators here and also push a massive amount of players to unregulated markets.

I love your faith for a commission that has shown itself to be nothing but out of its depth and stupid thus far!

 

[goatwack]

The exodus to unregulated markets is already in full swing, and the UKGC care not one jot, assuming they even notice such trivialities.

Their only focus is being 'seen' to bring Problem Gambling and the 'pipelines' that lead to it under complete control, even at the expense of the industry itself.

Find out about the work we're doing to raise standards in the gambling industry, protect children and the vulnerable and keep crime out of gambling

Well I guess 0 out of 4 ain't too bad. Could do better

 

[shadow123]

The UKGC are easily stupid enough to bring in the £2 limit, 90% of the crap they have come up with has proved they
nothing about the industry.Personally it would make no difference to me, the rare times I have staked over £2 have never
turned out well and I still consider £2 to be a high stake but imposing that limit will cause a mass exodus of casinos from
the UK leaving us with the few big groups offering shit rtp,s and causing the problem gamblers to lose even more.

 

[brianmon]

I doubt there'll be a MASS exodus to unregulated casinos.
The majority of players are casual/amateur (for want of a better word) players.
If an unregulated casino can't offer simple deposit methods (debit card PayPal etc) and play without a VPN.
Then those casual players just won't be interested in setting up a VPN or buying cryptocurrency in order to play.

 

[satchnz]

I doubt there'll be a MASS exodus to unregulated casinos.
The majority of players are casual/amateur (for want of a better word) players.
If an unregulated casino can't offer simple deposit methods (debit card PayPal etc) and play without a VPN.
Then those casual players just won't be interested in setting up a VPN or buying cryptocurrency in order to play.

That’s probably a fair comment tbh. Although younger punters might be more well schooled in the subject of crypto and VPNs etc. It’s really not hard to do but I acknowledge some are more challenged with technology than others.

 

[johnnymcc1966]

The UK land based casino lobby are obviously a very powerful lobby if this type of thing is happening now. The UKGC are obviously the puppets of either the current government or some of its major donors.

 

[shadow123]

Suppose they are quite a few casual plays who know nothing about rtp and happily do the National Lottery and Scratchcards
which have the lowest imaginable payback.Anyone who is a serious regular gambler is going to have to choose to go offshore
or pack up in the end.

 

[deleted20230517]

It's such a bad idea to start playing abroad using a VPN or "crypto currency based casino"... How many stories do you read about players being removed from their winnings after yearfull of loyalty to the brand, and to be removed after attempting to withdrawl on a large ?

Dont be stupid. Playing at a licenced casino in your jurisdiction at least offers you a fair deal and you have a license supervisor who backs you. When going abroad using a VPN your already in breach of their TOS. So is taking that risk really worth it?

 

[slot_zombie]

It's such a bad idea to start playing abroad using a VPN or "crypto currency based casino"... How many stories do you read about players being removed from their winnings after yearfull of loyalty to the brand, and to be removed after attempting to withdrawl on a large ?

No, it really isn't a bad idea. It is a FAR superior gambling experience. I know for a fact that my regular haunt has a policy of not confiscating winnings - if they have concerns they will simply put you in "withdraw only" mode so you can take your balance but cannot play, or deposit.

 

[deleted20230517]

That does sound like one out of 10 casino's to be honest. The majority upholds a TOS that you are breaching in the first place which gives them the ultimate trigger if they wanted to.

 

[philderby]

I finally accepted playing at uk casinos is pointless last year and haven't made a deposit in months. As for Crypto I am looking into Blockchain rewards as they pay compounding interest upto 10%. Did some quick research and Revolut seems forward thinking when it comes to trading crypto.

I get paid tomorrow and there is no gambling in my budget as there hasnt been in months. Saving a small fortune lol

 

[Gullywino]

The UK gambling industry has been in the spotlight in recent years, with concerns over the rise of problem gambling and the impact of gambling advertising. As a result, the UK government has been considering reforms to update the 2005 Gambling Act, which regulates the industry.

According to a recent report by the BBC, the much-discussed reforms are set to go ahead, with the government planning to introduce new measures to tighten regulations and protect vulnerable gamblers. The proposed reforms include stricter age and identity verification checks for online gambling, mandatory limits on customer deposits, and new rules around advertising and promotions.

The aim of the reforms is to reduce the harms associated with gambling, particularly among vulnerable groups such as children and those with gambling addiction. The government has been under increasing pressure to take action on the issue, with campaigners calling for tougher regulation and greater protection for consumers.

The proposed changes have been welcomed by many in the industry, including gambling operators who have expressed a willingness to work with the government to ensure the reforms are implemented effectively. However, some have raised concerns about the impact of the reforms on the industry, particularly on smaller operators who may struggle to meet the new requirements.

Overall, the gambling regulation in the UK is set to get tighter, with the government taking action to address the rising concerns around problem gambling and the impact of gambling advertising. While the reforms are likely to have an impact on the industry, their aim is to create a safer and more responsible gambling environment, which is ultimately in the best interests of consumers and the wider community.

 

[shadow123]

There is little incentive to play in the UK now,current restictions which will only get worse have taken all the enjoyment out of
it.There are very few worthwhile bonus,s or rewards and long term loyalty to a brand means nothing.
Autoplay gone, bonus buys gone, constant RG messages, the ever looming threat of SOW, even Ted isnt isnt allowed to fart
anymore.Although I am not an addict,gambling is in my dna, always has been but i know when enough is enough and
take a break.Aĺl i want is a session now and then where I get decent gameplay for my deposit,no RG crap,and no threat
of the account being restricted or suspended.Players are actually penalized for losing.

 

[PMKFRUITPRO]

The first thing they should do is fine William Hill for running Hacksaw games at 92%.

I mean can you imagine the carnage sitting them out.

Fucking disgraceful.