The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has released a myriad of new measures as it seeks to heighten protections around online gambling and sports betting.
At the heart of the new measures is the prohibiting of reverse withdrawals, a decision made off the back of the group’s public consultation carried out in July 2020.
As well as this, the design around online slots games has also been adapted to provide a safer experience, with the removal of quickspins and the autoplay feature.
Neil McArthur, Chief Executive of the UKGC, underlined that the regulator had taken significant actions to remove all intensify play features from slots, after the evidence pointed to higher risks associated with ‘loss of player control or binge play’.
“To make online games safer we are introducing a ban on features that speed up play or give the illusion of control over the outcome,” he said. “We are also introducing a ban on autoplay, losses disguised as wins, and slot spin speeds faster than 2.5 seconds. The evidence shows that these features increase the risk of harm to customers.
“This is another important step in making gambling safer and where the evidence shows that there are other opportunities to do that we are determined to take them.”
Providing customers with deeper insights, all operators must also display slot players their ‘total losses or wins and time played during any online game session’.
Overseeing the UK’s gambling laws, the DCMS has approved the Commission’s new controls on online slots as a part of its regulatory duty to maintain a ‘comprehensive programme to make gambling fairer and safe’.
Commenting on the latest steps taken by the UK regulator, DCMS sports minister Nigel Huddleston stated: “Today’s steps will help curb the intensity of online gambling, introducing greater protections that will reduce the risk of gambling-related harm.
“I welcome the Gambling Commission’s tough measures as we continue our comprehensive review of gambling laws to make sure they’re fit for the digital age.”
