UKGC Enhances Consumer Control with New Deposit Limit Rules

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The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has announced significant changes to its Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP), aimed at increasing consumer control over gambling and enhancing transparency around customer funds protection. These changes, which follow a comprehensive consultation process, are in line with the recommendations outlined in the 2023 White Paper, "High Stakes: gambling reform for the digital age."

A key focus of these changes is to empower consumers with greater control over their gambling activity. From October 31, 2025, all gambling businesses will be required to prompt customers to set an initial deposit limit before their first deposit is made. Furthermore, operators must ensure that customers can easily review and adjust these limits at any time, providing them with greater flexibility and control over their spending.

To further enhance consumer awareness, operators will be required to send regular reminders to customers every six months, encouraging them to review their account activity and consider adjusting their deposit limits as needed. This proactive approach will help consumers maintain a healthy and responsible gambling experience.

The new rules also emphasize greater transparency regarding the protection of customer funds. Operators holding customer funds will be obligated to clearly outline in their terms and conditions the level of protection afforded to these funds in the event of insolvency. This information, including the specific methods used to protect customer funds, must be readily available to customers at the point of their initial deposit.

These changes will coincide with the introduction of the government's statutory levy, which is expected to come into force on April 6, 2025. As the statutory levy will replace the current system of industry contributions to research, prevention, and treatment organizations, the LCCP will be amended accordingly.

Tim Miller, Gambling Commission Executive Director for Research and Policy, stated: "These changes demonstrate our unwavering commitment to ensuring a fair and open gambling environment. By empowering consumers with greater control over their deposit limits and enhancing transparency regarding the protection of their funds, we are taking significant steps towards a more responsible and sustainable gambling sector."

The UKGC will continue to work diligently to implement the remaining commitments outlined in the 2023 White Paper, including a comprehensive program of evaluation to assess the effectiveness of these and other regulatory changes in creating a safer and more responsible gambling environment for all.