- Joined
- Mar 31, 2005
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has announced the implementation of new regulatory measures aimed at enhancing trust and transparency for online consumers. These updated controls, effective from 31 October 2025, will be incorporated into the Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP), aligning with the reforms outlined in the Gambling Review’s White Paper, High Stakes: Gambling Reform for the Digital Age.
The changes are designed to give consumers greater control over their gambling expenditure. Under the new rules, online operators must ensure that customers set financial deposit limits before making their first deposit. Additionally, operators will be required to simplify the process for reviewing and adjusting these limits at any stage of activity.
Further stipulations include the obligation for online licensees to remind customers every six months to review their account and transaction history, “to help consider if they want to change existing, or set new, deposit limits.”
Addressing the introduction of mandatory customer limits, the Commission noted that “recent changes by some operators on how deposit limits are offered… could cause confusion for consumers.” To address this, the UKGC plans to launch a brief supplementary consultation aimed at enhancing consistency and transparency regarding financial limits.
Enhanced Transparency on Customer Fund Protection
In addition to spending controls, the LCCP adjustments will introduce stricter requirements to improve transparency around the protection of customer funds. Operators will be required to clearly state in their terms and conditions whether customer funds are safeguarded in the event of insolvency. This information must specify the level of protection provided and the method by which it is secured.
The levels of protection must be categorised as:
The Commission stated: “Whilst there is no legal duty on gambling operators to protect customers’ funds in the event of insolvency, many of them do so voluntarily. The changes will help consumers understand which operators protect their funds and which do not—information which will support them in making choices about who they gamble with.”
Introduction of a New Mandatory RET Levy
The final set of updates relates to the introduction of a new mandatory Research, Education, and Treatment (RET) Levy. The Commission will withdraw the existing LCCP requirement for operators to make annual voluntary contributions towards the research, prevention, and treatment of problem gambling.
In November, the UKGC and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) finalised the framework for the new RET Levy, which will be overseen by the NHS. This levy mandates that all licensed online operators contribute 1.1% of their Gross Gambling Yield (GGY) towards RET funding, with the new system expected to be operational from 1 April.
Operators with gross profits below £500,000 will be exempt from this levy. The government has committed to reviewing the statutory levy system within five years, with the first formal review anticipated by 2030.
Given the introduction of the RET Levy, the UKGC has deemed the previous LCCP obligations on annual contributions obsolete. Licensees will be informed of the implementation date once the Parliamentary process concludes.
A Commitment to Consumer Empowerment
Tim Miller, the Commission’s Executive Director for Research and Policy, commented: “These changes illustrate our commitment to ensuring gambling is fair and open by improving consumer empowerment and choice."
“These changes will help consumers decide on deposit limits, enable them to keep track of their spending, and ensure they are fully aware of what happens to their funds should an operator become insolvent."
“We will now continue our work to deliver our remaining White Paper commitments, including our programme of evaluation.”
Further Information -
The changes are designed to give consumers greater control over their gambling expenditure. Under the new rules, online operators must ensure that customers set financial deposit limits before making their first deposit. Additionally, operators will be required to simplify the process for reviewing and adjusting these limits at any stage of activity.
Further stipulations include the obligation for online licensees to remind customers every six months to review their account and transaction history, “to help consider if they want to change existing, or set new, deposit limits.”
Addressing the introduction of mandatory customer limits, the Commission noted that “recent changes by some operators on how deposit limits are offered… could cause confusion for consumers.” To address this, the UKGC plans to launch a brief supplementary consultation aimed at enhancing consistency and transparency regarding financial limits.
Enhanced Transparency on Customer Fund Protection
In addition to spending controls, the LCCP adjustments will introduce stricter requirements to improve transparency around the protection of customer funds. Operators will be required to clearly state in their terms and conditions whether customer funds are safeguarded in the event of insolvency. This information must specify the level of protection provided and the method by which it is secured.
The levels of protection must be categorised as:
- Not protected – no segregation
- Not protected – segregation of customer funds
- Medium protection
- High protection
The Commission stated: “Whilst there is no legal duty on gambling operators to protect customers’ funds in the event of insolvency, many of them do so voluntarily. The changes will help consumers understand which operators protect their funds and which do not—information which will support them in making choices about who they gamble with.”
Introduction of a New Mandatory RET Levy
The final set of updates relates to the introduction of a new mandatory Research, Education, and Treatment (RET) Levy. The Commission will withdraw the existing LCCP requirement for operators to make annual voluntary contributions towards the research, prevention, and treatment of problem gambling.
In November, the UKGC and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) finalised the framework for the new RET Levy, which will be overseen by the NHS. This levy mandates that all licensed online operators contribute 1.1% of their Gross Gambling Yield (GGY) towards RET funding, with the new system expected to be operational from 1 April.
Operators with gross profits below £500,000 will be exempt from this levy. The government has committed to reviewing the statutory levy system within five years, with the first formal review anticipated by 2030.
Given the introduction of the RET Levy, the UKGC has deemed the previous LCCP obligations on annual contributions obsolete. Licensees will be informed of the implementation date once the Parliamentary process concludes.
A Commitment to Consumer Empowerment
Tim Miller, the Commission’s Executive Director for Research and Policy, commented: “These changes illustrate our commitment to ensuring gambling is fair and open by improving consumer empowerment and choice."
“These changes will help consumers decide on deposit limits, enable them to keep track of their spending, and ensure they are fully aware of what happens to their funds should an operator become insolvent."
“We will now continue our work to deliver our remaining White Paper commitments, including our programme of evaluation.”
Further Information -
You do not have permission to view link
Log in or register now.
