UKGC Unveils New Restrictions to Make Online Slot Games Safer for Consumers
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has revealed new restrictions aimed at enhancing the controls and protections for users of online slot games. Some of the new measures announced by the country’s gambling regulatory body include a permanent ban on features used to speed up customers’ play or celebrate their losses as wins, as well as more limits for spin speeds.
The changes have been unveiled by the gambling watchdog following a consultation with investors and representatives of the gambling sector, players and members of the public. Under the new restrictions, gambling operators are required to implement stricter player protection measures aimed at making online casino games both safer by design and less intensive, also providing players with more control over their gambling.
The UKGC has remained particularly focused on online slots because of some these games’ features that boost the intensity of play that, respectively, increases the corresponding risks to customers. So far, reports have shown that digital slot games are the online gambling product that has the highest average loss rates per player.
According to the latest data measuring the coronavirus’ impact on gambling behaviour in November 2020, players’ average spending on online slots amounts to £67 on a monthly basis. In comparison, the average UK customers’ spending on online casino gambling was £36, while the one on real-event betting was £45.
Autoplay, Speed-Up Play and Misleading Imagery and Sound Features Banned Under Newest Changes
Under the new rules announced by the UK Gambling Commission, four key features of online slots games are set to be suspended.
As part of the changes, online slots games will no longer be permitted to have features that speed up play or create the illusion that players have any control over the outcome. Autoplay features will be suspended, too, because they can lead to players losing track of their play. The UK gambling regulator will also ban slot spin speeds faster than 2.5 seconds and will not allow operators to use any imagery or sounds that could create the illusion that a player wins in cases when their return is smaller or equal to the betting stake.
After the gambling regulator published a consultation in July 2020, further research has proved that the autoplay feature in online slot games has been associated with enhancement of problem gambling, as some players lose track of play by using it, which makes it more difficult for them to stop playing.
Apart from that, the UKGC announced some other changes, including a permanent ban on so-called reverse withdrawals, or the function that provides players with the chance to spend money they had previously requested to withdraw. Furthermore, the total losses or winnings will have to be clearly displayed to consumers by gambling operators during any of their online slots sessions.
The Commission shared that online gambling operators will have until October 31st, 2021 to fully implement the required changes.
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