New UK Rules Simplify Casino Promotions, Limit Wagering Requirements

_{The UK Gambling Commission introduces new rules to simplify gambling promotions. (Image: Gambling Commission)}

New rules increasing the safety and simplicity of consumer promotional offers are to be introduced by the Gambling Commission.

Gambling operators will be banned from offering promotions that require players to engage in two or more gambling activities.

Operators will also have a limit on how many times the consumer must re-stake bonus funds before they can withdraw their winnings.

Mixed Product Promotion Ban  

Mixed product promotional offers provide bonuses on the condition the consumer plays different products, such as betting and playing slots.

But evidence shows consumers are more at risk of harm when they gamble on multiple products rather than a single product. There is also the risk that mixed product promotions confuse consumers because of complex terms and conditions.

Bonus Wagering Requirements Limited to Ten

Some promotional offers provide bonus funds to consumers on the condition the consumer restakes any winnings multiple times before being allowed to withdraw winnings from the bonus.

For example, a £10 bonus with a 50 times wagering requirement requires the consumer to play through £500 before the winnings can be withdrawn.

Such high wagering requirements could confuse consumers and lead them to gamble for longer and faster than they are used to.

To ensure increased clarity of the Commission’s current expectations of operators, it will alter the structure and wording of Social Responsibility Code 5.1.1 (Rewards and Bonuses). Full details of these changes can be found in the response document.

“These changes will better protect consumers from gambling harm and give consumers much better clarity on, and certainty of, offers before they decide to sign up,” said Tim Miller, Executive Director of Research and Policy