UK Market Slot Legislation change Implications

Published on the 2021-04-13

Over the last few months, the UK online gambling industry has been the subject of a rigorous review from the UKGC in conjunction with the government in a bid to try and help curb gambling addiction and the problems that arise from this.

As a result, this has led to various proposals and changes to how sites in the industry can operate, but also more intricate aspects of online gambling that are to do with the mechanics of slots themselves.

These have been implemented to help combat dangers that threaten Responsible Gambling and as such, it is hoped that there will be more clarity for the players moving forward. While these are subtle tweaks, the experience that players have on slots is unlikely to change too drastically, however the improved transparency will mean that they have greater control.

Such changes have been met with upbeat enthusiasm by individuals among the industry’s regulators: “The evidence shows that these features increase the risk of harm to customers,” said the Gambling Commission chief executive, Neil McArthur.

The sports minister, Nigel Huddleston, said: “Today’s steps will help curb the intensity of online gambling, introducing greater protections that will reduce the risk of gambling related harm. I welcome the Gambling Commission’s tough measures as we continue our comprehensive review of gambling laws to make sure they’re fit for the digital age.”

What measures have been introduced for online slot players?

The changes that have been imposed by the regulators are first and foremost for the protection of the player and this is being seen as significantly important for those who are new to the online gambling industry.

Minimum spin speeds

By imposing minimum speed limits on slots and by extension jackpot slots, the aim of this measure is to have a 2.5 second minimum spin speed and in connection with this, the proposal also laid out the aim of scrapping a number of features relating to it. These include putting a ban on the turbo spin feature, quick spin feature and also slam stop, plus others that would reduce the spin time. Withe these measures invoked, it means that players are able to keep better track of what is happening while they are playing and better understand how the slot is progressing. As a result of these changes, it means that players are also much likelier to keep track of how much they are losing on a particular spin.

Ban on misleading sounds and imagery

For years, online operators have been able to subtly take advantage of vulnerable gamblers with the slots that they choose to list on their sites. There has been somewhat of a calculated selection process that online casinos take when they are deciding which slots they want on their sites and more often than not, the majority of these will have certain features.

The most common of these include sounds and images that elicit euphoria when a player wins on a spin. These were integrated in slots to provide the player with the illusion that they have won a substantial amount in the hope that they would keep on gambling. It was often the case that this would happen.

In reality, the majority of these scenarios were that the player had actually won less than their actual initial stake. This has been one of the main features in slots that has played a significant part in the rise of gambling problems over the last few years. It is especially the case if you factor in those players who take part in online gambling while they are drinking alcohol, which is also plays a significant role in giving players a false sense of euphoria. Combined, both of these can be attributed with a huge amount of problem gambling cases.

The types of sounds that the ban refers to are those of a positive and upbeat rhythm that one would often associate with a good feeling, often with a high pitched, joyful melody. Such imagery which is usually simultaneous would include bright, cheerful colours, with some involving flashing lights, not too dissimilar from a firework display.

Clear Indicator of wins and losses

Also introduced, which has been seen as a crucial change is that slots are now required to provide players with a clear indicator of how much they are up or down after every spin during their gameplay. This allows players to keep track of their bankroll in a much better way, while also making sure that they can make informed decisions better about whether or not to continue. While players who do have a gambling addiction might ignore the fact that they are making a loss, this is still regarded as a notable implementation, especially for those who are new to the industry who might not have a clear understanding of how slots and their various mechanics work.

Reverse withdrawals scrapped

Quite often, when players won a sizeable amount while playing on a slot, those who would immediately decide to withdraw the cash into their bank accounts, would have the option to ‘reverse withdraw’ which would act as a subconcsious trigger and remind them that they had the option to carry on gambling at the site.

This is being viewed as a key change to the online gambling industry from a slot experience as it could well play a considerable role in reducing the £2.2 billion annual revenue that is made in the UK online gambling industry.

How is the player experience affected?

If anything, these changes are thought to only enhance the player’s experience of online slots and jackpots, while also assisting in the reduction of gambling addiction. While there are those who understand exactly how online gambling works and are educated about the risks that are involved and what could happen, there is still a stark undercurrent of those who believe that they can easily win big all of the time. The fact is, still quite a large proportion of those who enjoy online gambling, are able to afford it, know how slots work and know where to draw a line. Simply put, it is just a hobby. The problem has arisen for those who see it as an easy ‘get rich quick scheme’ and once they start they cannot stop, because they are chasing losses. It is this vulnerable criteria of online gambler that these changes can provide more safeguards to.

As far as how the slots unfold though, the general themes and designs remain the same and the changes do not affect the majority of the content, or indeed a player’s ability to win. This, though, is because the slots are completely random and everyone has the same chance of winning, regardless of the changes.