Advertising is not expected to face any new restrictions in the white paper. Two sources with knowledge of the discussions said a “legislative backlog” in parliament, partly due to measures required as a result of Brexit, made it impossible to introduce new curbs on marketing without a potentially lengthy consultation process. An early draft of the white paper envisaged doing so for punters who lose £1,000 in a day or £2,000 over 90 days.Ĭurbs on digital marketing, such as promotions sent to customers offering “free” bets or bonuses, are also set to go to further consultation. Ministers are expected to ask the Gambling Commission, the industry regulator, to consult on when and how to perform such checks. Lobbyists for the £11bn-a-year industry have campaigned hard against tougher checks that would require operators to demand proof of earnings. On affordability checks, which campaigners say could stop people suffering financial ruin, the government is understood to be leaning towards a light-touch option, which would see firms perform credit checks when customers lose a certain amount. Older players may be allowed to bet up to £15 per spin but the exact levels will be decided at a later date.

The consultation is likely to propose limits of £2 for under-25s, in line with the cap for customers of all ages on shop-based fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs). It is understood that there has been no decision on limits for stakes on online slot machines games, which are currently unlimited despite carrying some of the highest rates of addiction of any gambling product. Iain Duncan Smith, the former Tory leader who chairs a cross-party parliamentary group examining gambling harms, told the Guardian he was concerned about the white paper, warning that putting out so many measures to consultation was “tantamount to doing nothing”. Some of the most hotly contested measures, including affordability checks for punters making big losses, curbs on digital marketing and the exact level of stake limits of online slot machines, are expected to go out for further consultation, amid a legislative backlog in parliament. Looser restrictions for land-based casinos. Measures to slow down online casino games. Online slot machine stakes limited to between £2 and £15. Proposals expected in the white paper include:

Ministers will unveil plans intended to make gambling safer, following a string of high-profile cases where customers have suffered huge losses or taken their own lives.

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