At the Gaming Council’s Annual General Meeting on February 27th, Minister for Gambling Baroness Twycross confirmed big changes that are set to arrive in April 2025. Following debate in both houses in February, new stake limits have now been passed into law.
The new stake limits of £5 and £2 will come into effect on April 9th and May 21st, respectively. The former will apply to players over the age of 25, while the latter will be set for those between the ages of 18 and 24.
Online slots continue to be a popular form of entertainment in the UK. More and more Brits are playing online and many will still look to play in casinos with more relaxed wagering limits. This can be done in those that are licensed outside the UK and operate under different regulatory frameworks.
Such casinos also don’t participate in the UK’s Gamstop self-exclusion program and can be found at ukslotsnotongamstop.com. These casinos not only bypass self-exclusion and avoid maximum wagering limits but also accept crypto payments and offer more privacy to players.
On the other hand, casinos licensed in the UK will now have to set the new stake limits and ensure compliance with updated regulations.
Another widely discussed topic among the gambling enthusiasts in the UK has been the future of greyhound racing, with Wales aiming to put a stop to the sport. However, the government’s secretary for media and sport has stated that there are “absolutely no plans” to enforce the same ban nationwide.
That reassurance came after Welsh Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies disclosed that local track owners might soon be subject to stringent new regulations or even forced to shut down.
The plans for banning the sport in Wales come after a government consultation and a petition that gathered 35,000 signatures.
Another topic addressed by Baroness Twycross were the worries about illegal casino websites. She said that the government aims to shut down any unauthorised platforms in order to help legitimate operators thrive and ensure more security for players.
Under the new Crime and Policing Bill, which among others aims to shutdown cybercrime, the government will be armed with stronger tools to combat any unauthorised websites.
This means they’ll also be able to block IP addresses and domain names associated with illegal online casinos.
It’s important to mention that this only applies to casinos without a license from the UK or another country, which are generally not considered safe to play at.
With 38% of people in the U.K. gambling online, the new measures will have a significant impact on the industry. While the new wagering limits may not be viewed as favorable by players, the shutdown of unauthorised platforms will ensure they can gamble safely online.
The next few months could turn out to be a defining period for gambling across the country, and we could see notable changes in how players engage with betting and online casino sites in the UK.
