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The impact of the Gambling Commission’s online slot game changes has been assessed and it shows that the change has led to a reduction in play intensity, but not unintended harm.
In October 2021, the online slot game rules were changed to improve protection and control for players. The Commission concentrated on online slots due to features that increased the intensity of gameplay and the associated risks for players.
Changes included a cap on spin speed, a prohibition of features that speed play up or give the illusion that you can control the outcome, an autoplay ban, and a ban of sounds or images that give the impression of a winning when the return equals or is below a stake. Operators were also required to display the total amount of losses or winnings and time spent playing online slots to players.
The UKGC observed:
- Some evidence of reduced online slot play since the introduction of changes
- No increase in stake activity as a result of the spin speed limit
- No evidence that gambling has a negative effect on gamblers.
The report shows, despite the cap on maximum spin speeds, that the percentage of bets at highest stakes decreased in the month following the change and also the number of sessions lasting longer than an hour. Overall, the general interest in slots has increased during this time period.
Moreover, the survey results showed that gambling on multiple tabs or games simultaneously has decreased.
The report was based on the Commission’s Online Tracker Survey, which gathers data from a nationally-representative sample of about 2000 adults in Great Britain aged 18+, collected quarterly, and 1,000 responses from adults 16+, as part of its quarterly Telephone Survey.
Tim Miller, Director of Policy and Research at the Department of Justice, stated: “Our assessment has indicated that online slot games have reduced play intensity, but there are no negative effects on behaviour or play.”
“That is positive. But we won’t be complacent. We will continue to monitor the specific sector in this regard for any unintended situations, or non-compliance.”
