GB Licensees Informed of April Deadlines Regarding Regulation Changes

Licensees and stakeholders in Great Britain have been notified of two upcoming evaluation deadlines by regulator the Gambling Commission, in a week of significant regulatory change in the UK gambling industry.

The first of these deadlines occurs today (April 2) and is regarding the closure of the Commission’s consultation on the destination of future regulatory settlements.

Regulatory settlements are an alternative form of enforcement action, such as a licensee reaching an agreement with the Commission after being found to have committed an operational failure.  This may involve payments in lieu of a financial penalty.

Statutory levy changes things

The review was prompted by the introduction of the statutory levy in April 2025. The levy was one of the standout proposals from the government’s 2023 Gambling White Paper.

It requires all licensed operators to pay a percentage of their gross gambling yield to contribute towards efforts to treat and prevent gambling harm. The rate ranges from 0.1% to 1.1%, dependent on the specific gambling-related activity.

The Commission previously advised the government that one outcome of the levy was that the Commission would have due consideration to the future destination of regulatory settlements.

The Commission committed to working with the government and levy commissioning bodies to explore how regulatory settlement processes could mirror the new levy commissioning structures and avoid duplication of work funded by the statutory levy.

Following discussions about this, it was decided it would not be feasible, due to the complexity and potential volatility of regulatory settlement funds. The Commission has since been consulting on a proposed amendment that would see any funds from future regulatory settlements being sent to a Consolidated Fund. This would mean the government could decide on the use of any future regulatory settlement.

What would the difference be?

Regulatory settlements agreed in lieu of formal penalties have historically followed a different process, with funds being directed towards research, prevention and treatment (RPT), prior to the introduction of the statutory levy.

However, the RPT funding has now been centralised under the levy. GambleAware, the charity which previously managed the voluntary system for RPT, has now disbanded, with control being handed over to the government.

April 10 deadline for GAR survey

The second deadline refers to the closing date for a survey regarding an evaluation of the Gambling Act Review (GAR). The National Centre for Social Research has launched a survey and interview programme to support an evaluation of the review which led to the Gambling White Paper.

The Gambling White Paper was one of the most significant publications in the history of gambling in the UK, setting out more than 60 proposals to update the country’s gambling laws, including the introduction of the statutory levy.

The survey on the GAR covers financial vulnerability checks, online slots stake limits, and socially responsible incentives. The survey will close on April 10.

New tax regime in force

These deadlines come at a significant time in the UK regulatory landscape, with the first of two significant online tax increases being implemented from the start of this month. On Wednesday, remote gaming duty, paid on online casino bets, was raised from 21% of gross gaming yield (GGY) to 40%.

In addition, general betting duty, paid on online sports bets, will rise from 15% of GGY to 25% in April 2027; bets on horseracing will be exempt from this.

Evoke, parent company of William Hill, is reportedly set to close around 200 betting shops from May onwards, with the tax increases being one of the main reasons behind the decision.