What do the upcoming changes in gambling regulations mean for UK players?

Playing casino games online is something that has really taken off around the UK, including in places like Bristol. This is because the ability to play casino games from home or via mobile has helped the industry to appeal to a much wider audience.

People around Bristol also love the range of games iGaming platforms carry, and the way the best casino sites look after users. Proper regulation is at the heart of the UK iGaming sector and explains why people feel confident enough to sign up at online casino sites.

Effective regulation of the country’s online casino market ensures that platforms are properly regulated by the UK Gambling Commission and adhere to strict guidelines on how they operate. iGaming.com’s reviews of the best casino sites in the UK are evidence of this and show just how the top gaming sites around the country are regulated.

Updated gambling regulations in the UK

The main piece of legislation for the nation’s gambling sector is the Gambling Act of 2005. This covers all gambling activities in the country and how they are governed. The dynamic nature of the online casino industry in the UK, though, combined with its rapid growth has seen calls for this legislation to be updated.

Plans for this were actually put into place during the previous Rishi Sunak-helmed Conservative government but it’s expected that the current Labour government under Keir Starmer will continue to forge ahead with them. This will be of interest to people in the city, who witnessed Labour clinch a clean sweep of Bristol seats.

What updates could be made to UK gambling laws?

Plans for changes to UK gambling laws could see the following amendments made:

• Financial risk and affordability checks – this would see UK operators expected to carry out more extensive checks to ensure players are betting within their means. Operators would also be required to conduct financial risk checks at certain thresholds.
• Stricter rules on advertising – advertising for all gambling operators in the UK will face tighter controls on who adverts are aimed at or how bonus offers are presented.
• Ban on VIP schemes – VIP programs have come under fire for fostering bad gambling habits and could be banned under upcoming changes.
• Guidance on game design – upcoming changes to UK gambling laws are expected to specify stake limits for online slots and dictate the gameplay speed of online casino games.
• Extra powers to target unregulated platforms – this will see the UKGC given more powers to target black market gambling platforms and take them down.
• New ombudsman for UK gambling to help players resolve disputes with operators.

Implementation of any changes to UK gambling laws will be split over four stages – August 2024, November 2024, January 2025 and February 2025.

What do these measures mean for UK players?

Change can be a great thing – just look at the number of new pubs and bars in Bristol, helping to keep the city’s nightlife scene so vibrant. This is also true for the changes that are due to hit UK gambling soon – but how will they affect players nationwide?

In truth, the impact of new legislation should have generally positive consequences for players. New powers for the UKGC to shut down black market platforms, for example, will protect players from being scammed by unregulated operators.

The setting up of a new ombudsman will be valuable for players in the UK who need expert, independent assistance when sorting out an issue with an unhelpful gambling site. Changes to game design rules will help people to gamble responsibly in the UK and lead to a much safer gaming experience.

As all of this shows, planned changes to UK gambling guidelines should offer better protection for players and a more secure environment to gamble in.

Changes will help UK gambling to further modernise

The UK has always been known as a real pioneer when it comes to playing casino games over the internet. Planned changes to legislation will help to cement this status and bring more modernisation to the country’s gambling industry.

This will in turn help it to move with the times and remain at the cutting edge of gambling regulation. It will also mean that laws that regulate gambling in the UK remain fit for purpose and do not become outdated. A crackdown on advertising by gambling operators is a good example of this, as this is a challenge that has grown to be more prominent in recent years.

UK gambling sector a safe and secure place to explore

Effective regulation of the UK gambling industry has always been one of the main reasons playing casino games online in the country has prospered. iGaming in the country is always changing, though, and this means the planned amendments to UK gambling rules are a force for good.