£5 Pound Maximum Online Casino Bet to be Proposed in New White Paper?

By Simon Wright, Last updated Jul 1, 2023

We have covered various reports over the past couple of years here on Casinomeister about a maximum bet limit being imposed on licensed United Kingdom Gambling Commission online casinos, well several media outlets in the UK this morning have latched onto an article published by The Times newspaper, that indicates the Prime Minister is set to outline new restrictions. Restrictions that could include a maximum online casino bet stake of between £2 – £5.

Indeed back in 2021, trade body the Betting and Gaming Council, whose members number the likes of bet365 and the Entain Group, commissioned a YouGov survey, that found unsurprisingly that the majority of respondents quizzed were against a maximum bet limit being introduced.

Within the coming weeks the UK Government is set to publish a new white paper which will see an overhaul of the current legislation covering gambling in the country, which was last updated back in 2005.

After being contacted by The Times, a spokesperson for the Department of Culture Media and Sport, which contains gambling within their remit, refused to comment on the growing speculation, but did state: “We are undertaking the most comprehensive review of gambling laws in 15 years to ensure they are fit for the digital age.”

Certainly an introduction of a maximum bet limit as ‘low’ as £2 would see UK based players look elsewhere offshore, at sites which do not offer protection to players that they enjoy while playing at a UK licensed operator’s site.

Indeed such a measure would likely see the smaller operators exit stage left as far as the UK is concerned. Interesting times ahead!

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