News Auto-play ban and new rules for UK licenses

Auto-play ban and new rules for UK licenses

The Gambling Commission has announced a package of strict measures that will strengthen protection and controls for those who play online slots, including the introduction of spin speed limits and a permanent ban on features that speed up the game or mark losses as winnings.



After consulting with the public and players, representatives of the gambling industry, and other stakeholders, operators will need to implement tough new player protection measures that will make online casino games less intense, safer by design, and give players more control over their gambling.

The Commission focused on online slots because of their features, which increase the intensity of the game and the associated risks for players. Slots carry the highest average losses per player among online gambling products.

The new rules include a complete ban on four key features of online slots:

Features that speed up the game or create the illusion of controlling the outcome
The slot rotation speed is higher than 2.5 seconds
AutoPlay — which can lead to the fact that the players will lose their game;
Sounds or images that create the illusion of winning when the profit is actually equal to the bet or lower.

Other changes include:

Operators must clearly show the player their total losses or wins, as well as the time spent during any online slot session.
Along with the changes regarding online slots, the Commission also introduced a permanent ban on reverse withdrawals for all online gambling — a feature that previously allowed consumers to re-play money they had previously requested to withdraw.
The enhanced security measures announced today should be fully implemented by online operators by October 31, 2021.

Since the publication of the Commission's consultation in July 2020, further research has found that the use of the auto-play feature was associated with some players losing track of the game, making it difficult for some to stop playing, and in some cases, simultaneously with gambling.

The evidence suggests that the functions of the inverse of the output represent a risk for the players because of the temptation to continue the game. In addition, features of the slot that are removed or controlled more carefully are associated with increased game intensity, loss of control on the part of the player, or rampant play.

Neil MacArthur, chief executive of the Gambling Commission, said:

"To make the online game more safe, we introduce a ban on the functions that speed up the game or creating the illusion of control over the outcome. We also introduce a ban on automatic play, losses disguised as winnings, and slot spin speeds above 2.5 seconds. Evidence shows that these features increase the risk of harm to customers.

"This is another important step towards making gambling safer, and the evidence shows that there are other opportunities that we are determined to take advantage of."
Minister for Sport, Tourism and Heritage Nigel Huddlestone said: "Today's steps will help reduce the intensity of online gambling by introducing stricter security measures that will reduce the risk of harm associated with the game.

"I welcome the Gambling Commission's tough measures as we continue a comprehensive review of gambling laws to make sure they are appropriate for the digital age."
The new rules are part of the Commission's comprehensive program to make gambling fairer and safer, which has also introduced enhanced protections for online age and identity verification, improved customer interaction practices, and banned credit card gambling.

The announcement of further consumer protection rules for online games and the design of these games followed the Commission's announcement on September 30 that it was introducing new rules to stamp out the irresponsible practices of " VIP customers." These rules came into force on October 31, 2020. Customer engagement consultations were also launched in November last year, with results expected later this year.

Readers can review the design of the Commission's online games and the response to reverse withdrawals for more details.

Notes for editors

Our Covid data shows that the average spending per slot machine player is £ 67 per month, compared to £ 36 for casino products and £ 45 for live event betting.