UK Government Publishes Gambling Act Review White Paper After Three-Year Review

The UK Government published the Gambling Act Review White Paper on April 27, 2023, presenting the most comprehensive proposed reform of British gambling regulation since the Gambling Act 2005 was passed. The review, formally launched in December 2020 under the Johnson government, was published three years later under the Sunak administration.

The White Paper, titled "High Stakes: Gambling Reform for the Digital Age," set out the government's proposals across multiple areas of gambling regulation. Key proposals included:

Online slot stake limits — A maximum stake of £2 per spin for players under 25, rising to £5 for adults who complete an account verification process. Players who complete a financial vulnerability check or enhanced affordability check could access stakes up to £15 per spin.

Statutory gambling ombudsman — A new independent body with statutory powers to resolve consumer complaints against licensed operators, replacing the existing voluntary Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) framework.

Statutory levy — A mandatory levy on licensed operators to fund gambling harm research, education, and treatment through NHS and other public health services, replacing the previous voluntary operator contributions to the Responsible Gambling Fund.

Affordability checks — A risk-based system for reviewing the financial circumstances of customers spending above defined thresholds. "Frictionless" checks using open banking data would apply at lower thresholds, with more intrusive checks for higher-spending customers.

Land-based relaxations — Some easing of regulations for land-based venues to support the hospitality sector and allow operators to modernise their product offerings.

The UK Gambling Commission was tasked with conducting public consultations on the specific implementation details for each reform area. The White Paper itself did not have immediate legal force — individual reforms require further regulatory action by the UKGC and, in some cases, primary or secondary legislation.