In an effort to combat gambling, the UK government has now revealed their plans to combat problem gambling with updated regulations due to the rise in online betting.

According to the new proposal, the government has suggested raising the affordability checks, maintaining the online stakes cap of 2 to 15 pounds, and enacting a new tax on betting firms that would be used to finance problem gambling research, awareness campaigns, and treatment programs, according to Reuters.

Speaking to the parliament, Secretary of State for Culture Lucy Frazer said, “A flutter is one thing, unchecked addiction is another; so today we are bringing our pre-smartphone regulations into the present day with a gambling White Paper (policy document) for the digital age.”

With the new proposed plan, gambling regulators will have the authority to shut down illegal betting sites and unauthorized operators. Further protections for people under the age of 25 will be implemented, as well as limits on promotional offers like free bets and spins.

Gambling with Lives, a charity group that supports people who lost families to gambling addictions, has lauded the move but asked to put an end to all gambling advertising and affordability checks at 100 pounds every month.

As of the current proposal by the government, detailed checks would start at a loss of 1,000 pounds under 24 hours or 2,000 pounds under 90 days.

According to a previous report published in March by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), the problem gambling rate remains low with current policies but needs to be more restrictive.

The COVID lockdown further increased the revenue for gambling firms, with owners of Ladbrokes and Coral brands, Entain and owner of Paddy Power and Betfair, Flutter Entertainment reaching significantly higher profits. Both Entain and Flutter welcomed the new proposal and told that they will be reviewing the details.

Minister of Gambling, Stuart Andrew, stated that the plan to make changes was in place for next summer, but the opposition Labour Party pushed the government to pass legislation before parliament breaks for the summer in July.

As of now, the government claims to have around 3,00,000 problem gamblers, but according to campaign groups, estimates the numbers suggest that over 1.4 million people are addicted to gambling, with around 500 losing their lives every year.