New gambling rules to make promotions ‘safer and simpler’ – Gambling Commission

NEW regulations will ban gambling firms from offering potentially harmful promotional bonuses that require customers to play more than one type of game, the Gambling Commission has announced.

The commission stated that evidence shows consumers are at greater risk of harm when they gamble on multiple products rather than a single game.

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Mixed-product promotions, which require customers to participate in different types of gambling, such as betting and playing slots, will no longer be permitted.

Additionally, operators will face restrictions on how many times customers must re-stake bonus funds before they can withdraw any winnings.

Under the new rules, the maximum wagering requirement will be capped at ten times the bonus amount.

This change is aimed at making gambling promotions fairer and more transparent for consumers.

Currently, some promotional offers require customers to re-stake winnings multiple times before they can withdraw funds.

For example, a bonus of £10 with a 50-times wagering requirement would mean a customer must gamble £500 before they can withdraw their winnings.

The commission warned that such high wagering requirements can confuse consumers and encourage them to gamble longer and at a faster pace.

The new rules, which come into effect on 19 December, are designed to reduce harm while improving fairness and openness in the gambling industry.

Tim Miller, Executive Director for Research and Policy, said: “These changes will better protect consumers from gambling harm and give consumers much better clarity on, and certainty of, offers before they decide to sign up.”

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chase their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
• Gamcare – gamcare.org.uk
• GambleAware –GambleAware.org

Read our guide on responsible gambling practices.

For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.