Clifford Chance

The UK regulatory landscape governing gambling and ancillary activities is currently undergoing a significant transformation in 2025. 

This change has largely been driven by a series of landmark regulatory updates aimed at enhancing consumer safety, promoting responsible gambling, and modernising oversight in the digital age. These reforms follow the Government’s 2023 White Paper “High Stakes: Gambling Reform for the Digital Age” and reflects a shift by the UK regulatory authorities away from a reactive and industry-led model and towards a more pro-active and interventionist model.

At a high-level, the key regulatory updates include the following:

Gambling Levies for Licensed Gambling Operators

On 6 April 2025, the Gambling Levy Regulations 2025 came into force in the UK, introducing a "statutory gambling levy" (being a percentage of Gross Gambling Yields) that will be payable by gambling operators to the UK Gambling Commission from 1 October 2025. The introduction of this new regulation marks a significant departure from the previous voluntary funding model for gambling-related harm prevention and treatment.

The new levy will apply to all gambling operators licensed by the UK Gambling Commission and will cover both online and real-life-based operators. The UK Gambling Commission will manage the distribution of the levies, which are intended to provide a sustainable, ring-fenced funding stream for:

1. Research into gambling-related harm;
2. Education and prevention initiatives; and
3. Treatment services for those affected by gambling addiction.

This statutory approach aims to ensure consistent contributions across the industry and greater accountability in how funds are allocated and used.

Stake Limits for Online Slots

The Gambling Act 2005 (Operating Licence Conditions) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 introduced mandatory maximum stake limits for online slots games, a long-anticipated measure to reduce gambling-related harm. Specifically, online gambling operators will need to ensure their businesses comply with the following:

1. From 9 April 2025: a £5 per spin limit applies to players aged 25 and over; and
2. From 21 May 2025: a £2 per spin limit applies to players aged 18 to 24.

The UK Gambling Commission recently clarified that the £5 limit (in para (a)) will apply to all adults from 9 April until 21 May when the £2 limit for adults aged 18 to 24 takes effect, after which only adults aged 25 and over are permitted to stake up to £5. These differentiated limits reflect evidence that younger adults are more vulnerable to gambling harm and are part of a broader strategy to tailor protections based on risk profiles. Indeed, the new measures appear to be a continuation of the UK Government's approach to safeguarding vulnerable people, as demonstrated recently by the UK Government placing certain restrictions on 'speed of play' and prohibited autoplay features in online slots games.

New Rules on Safety and Consumer Choice

On 4 February 2025, the UK Gambling Commission announced a package of new rules designed to enhance consumer safety and autonomy. Key measures include:

1. Financial vulnerability checks to identify at-risk players;
2. A pilot programme for frictionless financial risk assessments;
3. Granular marketing opt-ins, allowing players to choose which gambling products they receive promotions for;
4. Prompts for players to set deposit limits and regular reminders to review them; and
5. Improved transparency tools, such as clearer transaction histories and spending summaries.

These reforms are being implemented in phases throughout 2025, with the UK Gambling Commission emphasising a data-driven, iterative approach to ensure effectiveness and minimise disruption.

Conclusion

The 2025 reforms represent a decisive shift in UK gambling regulation and with the introduction of a statutory levy, targeted stake limits, and enhanced consumer protections, the UK is positioning itself as a global leader in responsible gambling regulation.

As these changes take effect, key stakeholders operating within the industry will need to stay agile in order to ensure that their systems, policies, and contracts are updated to reflect the new regulatory landscape.