The Gambling Act 2005 (Operating Licence Conditions) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
These regulations amend the Gambling Act 2005 (Operating Licence Conditions) Regulations 2007 to introduce maximum stake limits for online slots games.
The maximum stake is £2 for individuals under 25 and £5 for those 25 and over.
A six-week transitional period applies, and the Secretary of State must review the regulations within five years, publishing a report on the findings.
Arguments For
Protecting vulnerable players: The regulations aim to mitigate the risk of gambling harm among younger players by setting lower stake limits for those under 25.
Responsible gambling practices: Introducing maximum stake limits aligns with broader efforts to promote responsible gambling and reduce problem gambling.
Level playing field: The regulations apply uniformly across all remote casino operating licenses, preventing any unevenness in the market.
Evidence-based approach: The regulations are set to undergo a review in five years, ensuring that they remain aligned with evolving data on gambling habits and harm.
Legal basis: The regulations are made under the powers granted by sections 78 and 355(1) of the Gambling Act 2005 and have received parliamentary approval.
Arguments Against
Impact on business revenue: Limits on stakes could reduce turnover for online casino operators, potentially affecting their profitability and investment.
Challenging enforcement: Monitoring and enforcing stake limits on a large scale could prove operationally complex, requiring significant investment in technology and monitoring.
Black market diversion: Stricter regulations could inadvertently drive gambling activity to unregulated overseas online casinos, lessening consumer protection.
Unintended effects: Limits might not adequately target problem gamblers while disproportionately affecting recreational players who enjoy the game within the established limits.
Alternative approaches: Other methods, such as mandatory affordability checks or improved player identification and verification systems, might address gambling harm more comprehensively.
- Citation, commencement and extent (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Gambling Act 2005 (Operating Licence Conditions) (Amendment) Regulations 2025. (2) These Regulations come into force six weeks after the day on which they are made. (3) These Regulations extend to England and Wales and Scotland.
Section 1 details the regulations' title, effective date, and geographic scope.
The regulations will be known as the Gambling Act 2005 (Operating Licence Conditions) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 and will come into effect six weeks after their enactment.
They apply to England, Wales, and Scotland.
- Amendment to the Gambling Act 2005 (Operating Licence Conditions) Regulations 2007 After regulation 4 of the Gambling Act 2005 (Operating Licence Conditions) Regulations 2007 insert—
- Condition attached to remote casino operating licences (1) The condition specified in this regulation is attached to each remote casino operating licence, including remote casino operating licences issued before this regulation comes into force. (2) The condition is that, for an online slots game, the total amount which an individual may stake in relation to any game cycle may not exceed— (a) £2, where the individual is less than 25 years old, and (b) £5, where the individual is 25 years old or over. (3) Where this condition is attached to a remote casino operating licence which was issued before this regulation comes into force, the condition has effect from the date on which this regulation comes into force. (4) This regulation is subject to the transitional provision in regulation 6. (5) In this regulation— “game cycle” means, for an online slots game, the period beginning with the initiation of a game by the individual and ending at the point at which all money staked during the game has been lost or all money won during the game has been delivered to or made available for collection by the individual as the case may be; “online slots game” means a casino game that is— (a) a reel-based game, and (b) is played online; “reel-based game” means a game in which— (a) moving or changing images or text are displayed by the use of visual representations of reels or other means, and (b) an individual may win a prize or some other opportunity or advantage, as represented by the resulting arrangement of those images or text; “stake” means to pay or risk an amount in connection with an online slots game.
- Condition attached to remote casino operating licences: transitional provision (1) Regulation 5 does not apply for the period of six weeks beginning with the day on which regulation 5 comes into force (“the transitional period”). (2) During the transitional period, the condition specified in paragraph (3) is attached to the operating licences mentioned in regulation 5(1). (3) The condition is that, for an online slots game, the total amount which an individual may stake in relation to any game cycle may not exceed £5. (4) In this regulation “game cycle”, “online slots game” and “stake” have the meanings given by regulation 5(5).
- Review (1) The Secretary of State must— (a) carry out a review of regulation 5, and (b) publish a report setting out the conclusions of the review. (2) The report must— (a) set out the objectives intended to be achieved by regulation 5, (b) assess the extent to which those objectives are achieved, (c) assess whether those objectives remain appropriate, (d) if those objectives remain appropriate, assess the extent to which they could be achieved in a way which involves less onerous regulatory provision. (3) The first report must be published before the end of five years beginning with the day on which regulation 5 comes into force. (4) Subsequent reports must be published at intervals not exceeding five years.”
Section 2 amends the 2007 Gambling Act regulations.
It adds new regulations (5-7) that establish a maximum stake for online slots games.
Regulation 5 sets the maximum stake at £2 for under-25s and £5 for those 25 or older.
Regulation 6 provides a six-week transition period where the maximum stake is £5 for all players.
Regulation 7 mandates a review of regulation 5 within five years by the Secretary of State, with subsequent reviews at intervals of no more than five years.
Clear definitions of key terms are included.