UK Gambling Reform 2025: A Look at Recent Rules and What Comes Next

With a general election expected within the next 18 months, gambling policy could become a campaign issue.

15:28 28 August 2025

The UK’s gambling sector has undergone its most significant regulatory overhaul in nearly two decades with the Gambling Act Review White Paper.

2025 marks a turning point for how gambling is governed in the modern age. The reforms are designed to bring the outdated 2005 Gambling Act in line with the realities of a fast-changing online environment, where the lines between entertainment, gaming, and gambling are increasingly blurred.

A White Paper Years in the Making

The Gambling Act Review was originally announced in 2020 but was delayed several times due to political instability, cabinet reshuffles, and shifting priorities. When the White Paper was finally released in April 2023, it laid out a sweeping reform agenda that has since evolved through consultations and staged rollouts over several years. By mid-2025, nearly all measures will have taken effect, with others still in development or trial phases.

The overarching goals of the reforms are clear: reduce gambling-related harm, address regulatory loopholes in online gambling, and ensure that protections are proportionate to risk—especially for vulnerable groups, such as young adults.

Core Measures Implemented in 2025

1. Online Slot Stake Limits

This was perhaps the most headline-grabbing change and was recently just implemented on April 9th this year. It implemented mandatory stake limits for online slot machines based on the player’s age, as follows:

• £5 per spin for adults aged 25 and over
• £2 per spin for players aged 18 to 24

Research highlighted that individuals in the 18–24 age group are more likely to incur unaffordable losses and exhibit impulsive spending patterns. Online slots were also deemed the most high-risk casino game; thus, the betting cap was an important step.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) estimates that this change alone could help prevent thousands of cases of gambling harm annually without unduly restricting recreational gamblers.

2. Mandatory Financial Risk Checks

Financial vulnerability checks became compulsory in February 2025, following a consultation process with stakeholders including banks, charities, and betting operators. Operators are now required to perform enhanced checks on customers who:

• Deposit more than £150 net per month to a gambling site
• Show signs of financial vulnerability based on publicly available data (e.g., County Court Judgments)

This is a sharp reduction from the previously proposed £500 threshold and aligns with findings from pilot programs that showed higher efficacy in early intervention. Operators must also conduct more detailed affordability checks at higher thresholds (£1,000 per day or £2,000 over 90 days), with stricter standards for those under 25.

The new system includes a “frictionless” background check process to minimize disruption to low-risk players while flagging problematic patterns early.

3. A Statutory Levy to Fund Harm Prevention

One of the most structurally important changes is the introduction of a statutory levy on gambling operators. This replaces the long-criticized voluntary contribution model, which was seen as inconsistent and insufficient.

The new levy ranges from 0.1% to 1.1% of gross gambling yield (GGY), depending on the type of gambling service provided. It is expected to raise over £100 million annually, which will be ring-fenced for:

• Independent research
• Public awareness campaigns
• NHS-led treatment programs for gambling addiction

According to DCMS, the funding will support a 50% expansion in NHS gambling clinics by 2026 and allow more community-based support services to operate.

4. Reforms to Advertising and Marketing

Tighter rules on marketing and customer engagement are also now in force. Operators must obtain clear and specific consent for direct marketing, allowing users to opt-in based on their product preferences (e.g., sports betting vs. online bingo) and communication methods (e.g., SMS, email, app notifications). All communications are disabled by default, so players need to activaly opt-in for marketing.

Furthermore, the Gambling Commission imposed other advertising restrictions, particularly related to sports sponsorships and influencer promotions. The most controversial ban is for Premier League clubs who no longer can allow front-of-shirt gambling sponsors starting with the 2026/27 season.

5. Age Verification in Land-Based Venues

Offline venues have not been spared. As of August 2024, the “Think 21” policy has officially been replaced with a “Think 25” policy across all land-based gambling venues, including casinos, betting shops, and arcades.

Staff are required to check ID for anyone who looks under the age of 25, just like with alcohol sales and other age-restricted sectors.

Industry Reaction: Support, Frustration, and Warnings

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), which represents around 90% of the UK’s regulated betting and gaming operators, welcomed the “measured” approach to reforms but warned that over-regulation could push consumers toward unlicensed, offshore operators.

Chief Executive Michael Dugher has reiterated that the legal market is already shrinking due to higher compliance costs and consumer friction. “We must be careful not to drive the majority of responsible gamblers into the black market, where there are no safeguards, no tax contributions, and no accountability,” Dugher stated in a recent briefing.

These views are commonly shared throughout the iGaming industry. Speaking with the gambling website CasiMonka.com/uk, they welcome stricter regulations to safeguard vulnerable players but warn that too tight limits will work against their intent. It must be well-balanced.

Meanwhile, consumer advocacy groups, such as Gambling With Lives and the Social Market Foundation, argue that the reforms do not go far enough. They continue to call for a blanket ban on gambling advertising and more severe restrictions on VIP schemes and gamified products.

What Comes Next?

While the bulk of the White Paper’s recommendations is now active, regulators have signalled that implementation is far from over. Ongoing consultations are focusing on:

• Technical standards for online games (e.g., reducing speed and intensity)
• The establishment of an independent gambling ombudsman
• A review of land-based sector rules, including casino machine allocations and contactless payment thresholds
• Evaluation of the effectiveness of stake limits and financial checks

The Gambling Commission has committed to publishing interim evaluation reports in late 2025, with a full impact assessment expected in 2026.

There is also mounting political pressure for additional reforms. With a general election expected within the next 18 months, gambling policy could become a campaign issue—particularly if public concern over harm continues to grow.