New rules to protect British players
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9 Feb 2025 •
Reading time: 3 minutes As concerns about online gambling continue to grow, the UK has recently taken a series of ambitious steps to regulate gambling practices. Deposit limits, enhanced transparency, and better protection of players’ funds: these new rules aim to reduce the risks associated with excessive gambling and promote responsible consumption.
Deposit limits
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has introduced new rules to strengthen player control over their deposit limits and improve transparency regarding the protection of their funds. From 31 October 2025, all gambling operators will be required to prompt their customers to set a financial limit before making their first deposit and to allow for the review of that limit at any time.
Additionally, operators must remind consumers, every six months, to review their account and transaction information, encouraging them to adjust their deposit limits if necessary.
Increased transparency on the protection of players’ funds
Operators holding customer funds are already required to state in their terms and conditions whether these funds are protected in the event of insolvency, the level of protection, and the method used. From 31 October 2025, operators whose customer funds are not protected must actively remind consumers, every six months, that their funds are not protected.
While there is no legal obligation for gambling operators to protect customer funds in the event of insolvency, many do so voluntarily. These changes will help consumers understand which operators protect their funds and which do not, thus enabling them to make informed choices about the sites they play on.
Statutory levy to fund addiction treatment
Until now, contributions to gambling harm prevention were made voluntarily by gambling operators, based on a list established and maintained by the Gambling Commission. This voluntary approach will now be replaced by a mandatory levy. This measure aims to ensure a constant and fair contribution from all industry players to fund research, prevention, and treatment of addictions. Bookmakers and casinos will be required to contribute around £100 million annually to research, prevention, and treatment of gambling harm. Half of the funds will go to the NHS, 30% to harm prevention, and the rest to research.
Industry and expert reactions
These announcements have sparked various reactions within the gambling industry and among public health experts. Some believe these measures are essential to protect vulnerable players, while others fear they may push players towards unregulated gambling sites. Henrietta Bowden-Jones, an NHS adviser, stated that 2.5% of the population gambles harmfully, indirectly affecting many others.
Meanwhile, gambling industry representatives have expressed concerns about the potential impact of these measures on their operations.
With the implementation of these new measures, the UK aims to find a balance between consumer protection and maintaining a dynamic gambling industry. The government and the UK Gambling Commission will continue to closely monitor the impact of these measures and adjust policies as needed to ensure a safe and fair gambling environment for all.