Compliance Updates

UKGC confirms gambling on credit cards to be banned from April 2020

Published

6 years ago

January 15, 2020

The Gambling Commission has announced a ban on gambling businesses allowing consumers in Great Britain to use credit cards to gamble.

The ban, which comes into effect on 14 April, follows the Commission’s review of online gambling and the Government’s Review of Gaming Machines and Social Responsibility Measures. A public consultation was carried out between August and November 2019.

24 million adults in Great Britain gamble, with 10.5 million of those gambling online. UK Finance estimate that 800,000* consumers use credit cards to gamble.

Separate research undertaken by the Commission shows that 22%** of online gamblers using credit cards to gamble are classed as problem gamblers – with even more at some risk of harm.

The ban, which will apply to all online and offline gambling products with the exception of non-remote lotteries, will provide a significant layer of additional protection to vulnerable people.

Neil McArthur, Gambling Commission chief executive, said:

“Credit card gambling can lead to significant financial harm. The ban that we have announced today should minimise the risks of harm to consumers from gambling with money they do not have.

“Research shows that 22% of online gamblers using credit cards are problem gamblers, with even more suffering some form of gambling harm.

‘“We also know that there are examples of consumers who have accumulated tens of thousands of pounds of debt through gambling because of credit card availability. There is also evidence that the fees charged by credit cards can exacerbate the situation because the consumer can try to chase losses to a greater extent.”

Mr McArthur said although he understood that some consumers used credit cards because they were convenient, the risk of harm to others was too high to allow the use of credit cards to continue.

“We realise that this change will inconvenience those consumers who use credit cards responsibly but we are satisfied that reducing the risk of harm to other consumers means that action must be taken.” he said. “But we will evaluate the ban and watch closely for any unintended circumstances for consumers.”

Mr McArthur warned that although likely to reduce gambling harm, the banning of credit cards needed to be accompanied by other efforts.

“The ban is part of our ongoing work to reduce gambling harm. We also need to continue the work we have been doing with gambling operators and the finance industry to ensure consumers only gamble with money they can afford to spend.”

Last year Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) ministers also met with banks and gambling operators to discuss their growing concerns, and how companies could use technology and customer data to help those at risk of developing gambling problems, including those using credit cards.

Culture Minister Helen Whately said:

“Whilst millions gamble responsibly, I have also met people whose lives have been turned upside down by gambling addiction.

“There is clear evidence of harm from consumers betting with money they do not have, so it is absolutely right that we act decisively to protect them.

“In the past year we have introduced a wave of tougher measures, including cutting the maximum stake on fixed odds betting terminals, bringing in tighter age and identity checks for online gambling and expanding national specialist support through the NHS Long Term Plan. We have also secured a series of commitments from five leading gambling operators that will include £100 million funding towards treatment for problem gamblers.

“But there is more to do. We will be carrying out a review of the Gambling Act to ensure it is fit for the digital age and we will be launching a new nationwide addiction strategy in 2020.

“We will not hesitate to take any further action necessary to protect people from gambling harm.”

Today has also seen the Commission announce changes to licence conditions which will require all online gambling operators to participate in the GAMSTOP scheme and offer their customers the service from 31 March.

Neil McArthur said:

“We welcome the fact that GAMSTOP have got to this stage in their development and encourage them to continue to improve their offer, particularly in relation to preventing those who have self-excluded being targeted by direct marketing.

“It is important that self-exclusion schemes are as effective as possible and they will be most effective when used in combination with other blocking tools such as gambling blocking software and payment card blocking.

Helen Whately added:

“We have been clear to all businesses that have connections to gambling, such as operators, social media platforms and banks, that they must be socially responsible and use the power of technology and data to help consumers manage their spending and protect them from harm.

“I have been encouraged by the majority of major high street banks introducing measures to allow customers to switch off spending on gambling through mobile apps.

“By making it a regulatory requirement for all online gambling websites licensed in Great Britain to sign up to Gamstop. I am confident that people who have taken the significant step to opt out of gambling will be well supported, alongside a wide range of other tools.”

2025 Global Regulatory Awards

Vixio Announces the 2025 Recipient of the Compliance Lifetime Achievement Special Award

Published

18 hours ago

October 14, 2025

George Miller

vixio-announces-the-2025-recipient-of-the-compliance-lifetime-achievement-special-award

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Vixio, a leading provider of regulatory intelligence solutions, is delighted to announce that Wes Himes will receive the Compliance Lifetime Achievement Special Award at the 2025 Global Regulatory Awards. This prestigious honour recognises individuals whose exceptional contributions have advanced the culture of compliance and regulatory standards across the gambling industry.

Throughout his distinguished career, Wes has been at the forefront of shaping modern gambling regulation, from founding the Interactive Gaming, Gambling and Betting Association (iGGBA) in 2000 to serving as Executive Director of Standards and Innovation at the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) and now as a Partner at Intrepid Partners. “I am truly humbled to be receiving this award… When I started in this industry 25 years ago, I had no idea how dynamic and exciting the sector would later become,” stated Wes Himes. Himes added: “It has been a privilege and a pleasure working with so many colleagues that I call friends, and I can not thank enough the operators and other stakeholders who have been so supportive of my work and career.”

As part of this announcement, Vixio has released a special episode of the Regulatory Radar Podcast. Vixio’s Chief Analyst, James Kilsby, sits down with Compliance Lifetime Achievement Special Award recipient Wes Himes to discuss his 25-year journey in the gambling sector, from navigating policy debates to building bridges between regulators, operators, and policymakers. Listeners will gain insight into how compliance has evolved into a cornerstone of sustainable growth and hear Wes’s perspective on the future of regulation and responsible gaming. A thoughtful and inspiring conversation with one of the most respected voices in the field, don’t miss this look back at a remarkable career and what lies ahead for the industry. To listen to the episode in full, please visit the Vixio website or follow the link here.

The post Vixio Announces the 2025 Recipient of the Compliance Lifetime Achievement Special Award appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

BetterGambling

BetterGambling Exclusive Report: 800+ UK Casino Operators Face Closure as 2026 Regulations Trigger Industry Apocalypse

Published

6 days ago

October 9, 2025

Niji Narayan

bettergambling-exclusive-report:-800+-uk-casino-operators-face-closure-as-2026-regulations-trigger-industry-apocalypse

Reading Time: 2 minutes

BetterGambling, the UK’s independent gambling industry think tank, released its comprehensive Market Intelligence Report, indicating over 800 casino operators will be forced out of the UK market by 2027, the largest industry slump in British gambling history.

The study, authored by BetterGambling’s stable of former casino bosses and regulatory experts, projects a precipitous 30-40% drop in authorised operators as the 2026 regulatory landscape renders continued operation economically non-viable for the low-to-midsized players.

“We are witnessing the greatest scale of change since the Gambling Act 2005. Our analysis proves that this is not just market consolidation – it’s a structural realignment of an industry that today supports 2,262 licensed operators as of March 2024,” said Diana Tunsu, Reviewer at BetterGambling.

Key findings from the BetterGambling report include:

• 680-900 operators anticipated to exit the market by the end of 2027 (30-40% of the current market)

• New casino launches will drop by 60-70% relative to 2024 levels

• White-label operations will see a 45-55% closure rate as a result of shifts in platform economics

• Stand-alone casinos will see 40-50% market consolidation as a result of compliance barriers

• Total first-year compliance investment of £800,000-2.8 million per operator.

The Compliance Investment Reality

BetterGambling’s in-depth analysis of operators reveals the true cash investment required for 2026 compliance. The regulatory fee alone will remove £100 million from the industry annually, and technology infrastructure upgrades will cost individual operators between £500,000 and £2 million.

“The economics are straightforward. Operators with GGY below £3 million per year are faced with a stark choice: spend significantly on compliance or consider strategic options including withdrawing from the market,” explained Diana Tunsu.

For more detailed analysis of the impact on different forms of casinos, see our in-depth UK Casino Reviews section.

White-Label Market Transformation

White-label casino businesses are recognized as being severely tested in this report, with 45-55% predicted to merge or close down. Of the estimated 350-450 current white-label businesses, BetterGambling predicts 200-300 will survive past 2027.

“White-label operators have a complex equation,” said the BetterGambling research team.

“They must navigate through the same compliance for independent operators when handling revenue-sharing arrangements with platform providers.”

The post BetterGambling Exclusive Report: 800+ UK Casino Operators Face Closure as 2026 Regulations Trigger Industry Apocalypse appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Compliance Updates

UKGC Introduces New Deposit Limit Rules

Published

6 days ago

October 9, 2025

Niji Narayan

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) is going to implement new deposit limit rules to help customers manage their spending.

Operators are currently required to offer tools so customers can easily set personal budgets for gambling at registration or when they first deposit money into their gambling account. To increase consumer empowerment the Commission is amending the rules to provide further consistency and clarity for customers when setting financial limits. These changes focus on how these limits are defined and communicated to customers.

From 30 June 2026 all online operators must provide customers with the opportunity to set a “deposit limit” which is based solely on the amount a customer pays into their account over a set duration. To avoid confusion, only this form of limit may be called a “deposit limit”.

In addition, gambling businesses will also be able to offer different limits, such as loss limits or limits where withdrawals are also taken into account.

The improvements to the rules are coming into effect in stages, and a key milestone is the set of previously announced changes which will come into effect on 31 October 2025 and require all gambling businesses to:

• prompt their customers to set a financial limit before they make their first deposit and make it easy for them to review and alter their limit

• remind consumers every six months to review their account and transaction information to help customers maintain control of their gambling spend

• offer financial limits using free text at an account level to help customers set meaningful limits

• provide financial limit setting facilities via a link on the homepage and deposit pages which are clearly visible and accessible, with the number of clicks to reach these facilities minimalised

• action all customer requests to decrease a financial limit immediately.

Helen Rhodes, Commission Director of Major Policy Projects, said: “Our work will help empower consumers to have greater awareness and control over their gambling. These further changes will also bring consistency and clarity for those consumers choosing to set deposit limits, while still supporting gambling businesses to offer customer choice for different forms of limits.”

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