The UKGC, the gambling commission in the UK, is considering limiting the maximum online bet amount. The Gambling Commission is considering limiting the maximum bet for online casino games to £ 2 (€ 2.40). This has recently been revealed by CEO Neil McArthur. At the moment, bets up to £100, £200 to £300 can often be placed.
Neil McArthur, general manager of the Gambling Commission, told a parliamentary committee that he would ensure that limits for online betting will be considered. The final decision will be taken in the coming six months. Earlier the decision was taken to ban credit cards for gamblers in the United Kingdom.
A revision of the online betting limits is clearly recommended by the parliamentary group, and it is already far too late. I am very happy that the Gambling Commission is finally taking action on this…
said Carolyn Harris, chairman of the parliamentary committee.
“Online gambling games must be reduced to £2 according to the rules in the”betting shops“. The Gambling Commission must stop being reactive and take action to protect the vulnerable from harm”, she added. In April last year, the permitted bet on high-speed electronic slot machines, known as “fixed odds terminals”, was already reduced from £100 to £2. These terminals are located in the “betting shops” which can be found anywhere in the country.
British Gambling Industry
The UK gambling industry has had to deal with a series of rules over the past year, with measures such as stricter age controls and higher taxes.
Brigid Simmons, president of the Betting and Gaming Council, who represents more than 90 percent of UK gambling companies, said that the consideration of the adjustment was already expected, since many adjustments have been made in recent years.
But, she added, “we must have an online gambling industry in this country that is the best in its class but also competitive in a world where, if you are not careful, you can drive people into the black market.”
A recent PwC report, funded by the gambling industry, showed that the unregulated market in the UK accounted for around £1.4 billion in sales and that 200,000 people had used illegal gambling sites in the past year.
