Baroness Twycross said operators must make their first statutory gambling levy payment on 1 October, after the measure became law on 25 February. Online slots stake limits of £5 for adults aged 25 and over and £2 for those aged 18 to 24 take effect on 9 April and 21 May, respectively.
Operators face a new levy payment date and two implementation dates for online slots stake limits.
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The UK government is preparing a consultation on whether to close a legal exemption allowing overseas betting brands without UK licences to sponsor British sports teams, reportedly expected to begin in July 2026. The review follows renewed scrutiny after Everton agreed a three-year shirt-sleeve deal with Stake.com; the government has not yet set out proposed changes.
The UK Gambling Commission said it would begin financial risk assessments in stages, starting with customers over 25 at the largest operators in the UK. Stage one checks will be triggered by net deposits above £5,000 in a rolling 24-hour period, and the regulator said it would not take immediate enforcement action when operators fail to act on results.
The House of Lords Liaison Committee heard gambling industry experts discuss a report containing 66 recommendations to the UK government. Speakers differed on whether advertising contributes to gambling harm; UKGC acting chief executive Sarah Gardner said research showed a correlation between exposure and participation but had not established causation.
Reportedly, UK gambling minister Baroness Twycross prioritised action against illegal gambling advertising. She presented this as part of the government’s efforts to protect the licensed market.
Baroness Twycross told a House of Lords panel that the UK government has no plans at this time for further gambling advertising restrictions, according to the report. She said there was no clear link between marketing and increased harm and defended the government’s cautious approach to additional curbs.