New gambling laws in UK: what’s new

April 27, 2023, saw the presentation of a long-awaited UK gambling white paper laying out proposed changes to how the iGaming business is regulated.

4 minutes – read

If you would like to know more about the new gambling laws and regulations that are outlined in the paper, 1Stop Translations is here with a complete run-down.

The key areas of the paper are as follows:

• Changes to gaming regulations in the smartphone era
• Checks and limits suggested by the white paper
• How online advertising should be handled

Gambling regulations in smartphone era

Given that the gambling white paper is based on a review of laws passed in 2005, it has had to consider the vast changes to iGaming business that have occurred since then.

To put things in context, the smartphone era did not truly begin until 2007, when the iPhone was released. Britain’s iGaming services have undergone significant transformation to adapt to this changing media landscape, and it is only natural that gambling law is modified to catch up.

As part of its recommendations for the iGaming sector, the paper proposes a maximum stake limit for online slot games. The suggested sum is between £2 and £15, although this may change as it is subject to consultation. The idea here is to limit high-stakes gaming, while still ensuring that the gambling law does not spread to an unneeded interference with safer, low-stakes gaming.

Another proposal concerns deposit limits, which are standard at online casinos and iGaming business sites. Under new gambling laws, deposit limits could potentially become mandatory, or at least set as a default so that the player can choose to opt out (as opposed to current practice in iGaming translations, where players choose to opt in).

Still another aspect of gambling in the smartphone era is the matter of account verification. The paper concludes that current systems are effective but suffer from a few weaknesses in terms of matching the holder of a given account to the payment details.

This problem could lead to compliance issues that could directly affect iGaming translations. The paper makes a vague statement about future discussions on how such risks can be mitigated with new regulations and technologies.

New gambling white paper: checks and limits

One of the conclusions reached by the white paper is that evidence points to an association between specific aspects of online gambling and an elevated risk of harm: in other words, that the online form of gambling has the potential to be more harmful to players than gambling in physical betting shops, casinos and other traditional outlets.

While the white paper acknowledges the widely-held principle that members of the public should have the freedom to choose how to spend their money, even if their choices might be unwise or even dangerous, it also recommends a series of risk checks that can help to make it safer to gamble online.

The paper suggests that, if a player loses a certain amount on gambling (a net loss of £125 within a single day or £500 over the course of a month are put forward as moderate amounts) then they will be subject to unintrusive checks. More detailed checks will commence at higher loss levels (£1,000 within a day or £1,000 across 90 days are the proposed numbers).

Gamblers still have the freedom to continue playing and potentially losing; under these proposed gambling regulations, the checks would merely offer the player advice and guidance, rather than actively prevent them from continuing. Another proposal is that younger players in the iGaming sector, those aged from 18 to 24, be subject to enhanced checks at lower thresholds.

Gambling advertising, marketing and sponsorship

The gambling white paper flags up potential issues with online adverts for iGaming services. It warns that such promotions could encourage excessive gambling among people who have already developed unhealthy habits regarding online casinos; they may also attract minors under 18 who are too young to play at such sites under gambling law.

The two primary areas for reform identified by the paper are direct marketing and bonus offers. Direct marketing is tailored towards specific individuals whose browsing habits indicate an interest in online gambling, and so can potentially affect people with gambling addictions.

Offers of welcome bonuses and free bets, meanwhile, can be misleading; the paper announces that the Gambling Commission will review such offers to ensure that they are presented responsibly, and will also strengthen the role of consent in direct marketing, giving users more room to opt out of such adverts.

The thrust of the new or revised gambling regulations relating to adverts is that these promotions will make a greater effort to avoid appealing to vulnerable people and children. To give an example, the Premier League has agreed to withdraw gambling logos from players’ shirts as of the end of the 2025/2026 season precisely because of its appeal to younger people.

The paper announces that the DCMS Online Advertising Programme is reviewing the matter with a particular focus on the role of online platforms in the dissemination of adverts for iGaming services.

Conclusion

As you can see, the iGaming sector is a fast-changing place, and new gambling laws can be a challenge. At 1Stop Translations, we pride ourselves on keeping ahead of the curve and ensuring that our clients receive completely up-to-date advice on all forms of iGaming localisations. Call our agency now, find out more about our services and get your content localised!

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New gambling regulations in 2023 for Italy, Hungary, and Sweden

Online gambling has always been strictly licensed all over the world. Global authorities have issued regulations for everything, from software development to marketing, so iGaming localisation can be a complicated task.

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Every iteration of your business must comply with the regulations of its location. Europe’s online gaming industry offers enormous promise, but that doesn’t make it easy to navigate. The continent might be considered a single state in economic terms, yet every EU nation has its own casino legislations.

Fortunately, the world is gradually developing a clearer and more accessible regulatory environment for gambling operators. Let’s take a look at three EU countries who are changing the law.

Italy extends online gambling licences in the iGaming sector

Gambling addiction is a serious problem amongst Italian players; therefore, the authorities are paring back the sector. Italy has always had strict regulations for sports wagers and online gambling, but the government is shaking up its approach to make room for the iGaming sector. Licenses will be extended until December 2023.

Parliament has also extended remote gaming, betting, and bingo licenses until the close of 2024, making this the perfect time for iGaming localisation. As you reassess the Italian leg of your casino, you’ll need to fit into the local licensing regime, which has only 40 licenses on offer. Still, Italians are enthusiastic gamers, so all those iGaming translations and licenses are well worth seeking out.

Online gambling law in Hungary

Hungary’s iGaming sector requires all online and land-based casinos to hold a concession licence. The government has cleared room for online sports betting operators to enter the market in the European Economic Area.

Its new 2022 gambling act relies on a multi-licensing model controlled by the Supervisory Authority of Regulatory Affairs. Applicants are required to have a minimum of five years’ experience in a different EEA nation, so you might have to wait a few years before launching your localisation project.

Hungary’s new regulation widens the market for iGaming content services. Casinos can now find provisions for a wider array of games, including horserace betting and online cards. Sports betting operators can at last find an audience on Hungarian soil. The new licence covers a five-year period, but the small print has yet to be finalised. Operators can expect a more comprehensive set of regulations in the coming months, but they can begin iterating their localisation strategy.

New gambling regulations in Sweden

In 2022 Sweden’s government proposed a robust new gambling regulation to protect gamers and create a more sustainable gaming industry. Online casino licences and software licences will be available from July 2023. Regulators will be issuing an initial batch of 70 licences as it bolsters the laws against advertising as an unlicensed operator.

The government has also removed the need for permits for entertainment games like LANs and pinball. If you’re in the midst of your iGaming translations, bear in mind that it’s against the law for foreign casinos to advertise to Swedish gamers. That adds a significant challenge to your localisation efforts, but you can overcome it by leaning into your global advertising campaign.

How to localise your online casino by jurisdiction

Jurisdictions are some of the most important and far-reaching components of the localisation process. Handle them poorly, and you could end up with a hefty fine or even have your entire enterprise shut down. Online gaming environments are required to fit in with the licensing requirements and regulations of the country they’re operating in, which is no easy task. It requires an in-depth grasp of local laws, which are rarely static.

Your localisation process must reassess the market every time a regulation is added. This is an infinite process that should be handled by someone who is proficient in both the practice of law and the applications for licensing.

Every operator needs to study the market they’re about to enter. Fail to achieve that, and you might spend a fortune launching in a jurisdiction that’s too expensive to operate in. Before you even consider an offshore launch, you’ll need to assess all the costs involved in licensing. You can make the process easier by keeping a pack of frequently-required documents for licensing authorities. That way, you can scale faster and more efficiently.

Choosing your localisation options

Some locations are easier to localise than others. The liberal laws of the UK, Gibraltar, and Costa Rica are primed for casino owners who have never localised before. They have regulatory bodies who can answer your questions and an easy tax environment to adapt to. If you’ve never launched on foreign soil before, it might be best to hire a professional company to handle your iGaming content services on your behalf.

Europe is home to several different gambling jurisdictions, and not all of them are EU members. Some countries operate independently, so your localisation needs to be handled one country at a time. 2022 was a significant year for digital casinos. Nations all across the EU created new legislative bills and regulations to open up the sector to foreign operators while still cutting down on addictive gaming.

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