Online slots playing to be restricted to £5 per spin | EUROtoday

The sum of money folks can place on a single on-line slots guess will likely be restricted as a part of a wider authorities overhaul to deal with playing dependancy.

A £5 per spin restrict will apply to all adults aged 25 and over with £2 per spin restrict for 18 to 24-year-olds.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) can also be set to extend taxes on playing corporations to fund dependancy therapy.

It mentioned the measures would enable folks to “gamble safely”, however the betting trade’s fundamental foyer group mentioned the federal government was “at risk of losing perspective”.

Addiction to on-line playing slots has surged for the reason that Covid pandemic, in line with knowledge from charity GamCare.

Of the 6,697 callers who disclosed a type of playing to advisers on its National Gambling Helpline in 2023-2024, 45% talked about issues with on-line slot video games, leaping from 34% in 2020-2021.

Meanwhile, the NHS has mentioned it’s treating extra folks with playing issues, with its newest figures displaying referrals have greater than doubled on the identical interval final yr.

Gambling minister Fiona Twycross mentioned the intention of introducing stake limits for on-line slots was “to protect those at risk, with a particular focus on young adults”.

“Gambling harm can ruin people’s finances, relationships, and ultimately lives,” Baroness Twycross added.

She mentioned the federal government would introduce “the first legally mandated” tax on the betting trade to fund playing dependancy therapy.

The Betting and Gaming Council, the trade foyer group, mentioned it had given £170m to fund playing hurt providers over the previous 4 years on a voluntary foundation.

However, the federal government mentioned below the present system, not not all playing corporations contribute equally, “with some operators paying as little as £1 a year towards research, prevention and treatment”.

Grainne Hurst, chief govt of the Betting and Gaming Council, mentioned the physique supported the federal government’s proposals.

However, she added: “The tone of this announcement suggests government is at risk of losing perspective of these facts, while simply dancing to the tune of anti-gambling prohibitionists, which serves no one.”

DCMS mentioned its necessary levy would elevate £100m for “the research, prevention and treatment of gambling harms”.

Half of the cash raised is to go on straight NHS care, 30% will likely be spent on public well being campaigns and different prevention measures, and the remaining 20% will likely be spent on analysis, the federal government mentioned.

Mark Weiss, deputy chief govt of GamCare, welcomed the federal government’s proposals.

“Having witnessed a steep rise in our helpline callers citing difficulties with online slots, GamCare further welcomes the introduction of new youth-focussed stake limits – an important step in preventing future harm,” he mentioned.

DCMS mentioned the levy might apply to wherever between 0.1% and 1.1% of a agency’s gross playing yield – a normal measure of earnings within the trade – “depending on the sector”.

The proposals are a response to a session run by the earlier Conservative authorities between October 2023 and January 2024.