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Are current regulations suffocating the online slots industry?
In the last three years, regulations specifically targeting slots and those aimed at the wider online gambling industry have been implemented by the UKGC. Are these regulations suffocating the online slots industry?
Growing regulatory environment
Since 2020, the UKGC has ramped up the pace of regulation, taking firmer action to ensure that licensing conditions and codes of practice protect players. As slots are the most popular casino games in the UK, and have the largest average loss per player (according to UKGC data, the average monthly spend for a slots player is £67, compared with £36 for casino products and £45 for real event betting), many of these new regulations have focused on features of slot gameplay, like feature buys and spin speeds.
In 2021, the UKGC announced a ‘package of changes’ and strict measures that would ‘strengthen the protections and controls’ for those who gamble using online slots, making the games ‘less intensive, safer by design and hand players more control over their gambling’. The new rules included an outright ban on:
- Quick spin features, or those that give the illusion that players control the outcome of spins.
- Spin speeds faster than 2.5 seconds.
- Auto-play, which could lead to players losing track of spins and spending.
- Sounds, imagery or animations that give the illusion of a win when the returns are lower than the staked amount.
Additionally:
- Slots must display the total win and loss amount during a playing session.
Around the same time, the UK banned reverse withdrawals (these allowed players to stake money they had requested to withdraw) and credit card use in UK-licensed online casinos. Affordability checks were also introduced.
All in all, it’s been a pretty tense three years for operators and slot developers, and the pace of regulation is not slowing as the government is in the process of updating the 2005 Gambling Act to make it fit for the modern age of online gambling. The update is expected to introduce further affordability checks, potential per-player budgets, slot stake limits, and a single customer view that allows information-sharing across gambling operators. It will also inevitably bring new regulations for slot sites, like changes to the way bonuses can be offered and advertised.
So what effect has the growing regulatory environment had on the UK slots industry?
The UK slots industry 2020-2023
The UK online slots industry consists of hundreds of developers that release new titles each month – it’s one of the most competitive gambling markets globally, creating more than £2.9 billion in gross gambling yield (GGY) per year.
The UKGC has recently released operator data, which compares Q3 of the financial year 2022 to 2023, with Q3 of 2021 to 2022, to look at how the market has changed. In regards to online slots, the data showed:
- GGY for slots in 2022-23 increased by 2% compared with 2021-22, but the total number of bets or spins increased by 8%.
- Average monthly active accounts increased by 13%.
- The number of slots sessions over 1 hour increased by 11%, topping 9 million for the first time in UKGC data.
While the data is supplied by operators and doesn’t include all UK operators, it’s a great snapshot of what’s happening in the industry, showing an increase in spending, the number of spins and active players and a growth in longer playing sessions.
Data from the UKGC’s industry statistics reinforce these figures and capture the entire market, showing that between 2020, 2021, and 2022 online slot GGY didn’t drop. This suggests that in financial terms, the measures have not significantly impacted the online industry (the data does not account for the number of players who swapped in-person for online play during COVID pandemic closures, which may be obscuring the effect of the regulations mentioned above).
The financial data contrasts with the viewpoint of industry operators, chiefly the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), which has produced research arguing that the increasing regulatory environment coincides with growth in offshore gaming. The research conducted by the BGC is compelling when matched with offshore gambling revenue figures and case studies from other European gambling jurisdictions, like Norway, which have tighter regulatory environments and a larger offshore market. However, it does concede that the increase in UK offshore gambling cannot be correlated with specific policies.
Effects on innovation
Finance aside, decreasing the speed of play and banning features like bonus-buy and auto-play can affect player enjoyment by slowing down games and reducing risk. In turn, more rules also place greater constraints upon developers, which may suffocate innovation within the industry and encourage developers to leave the market or focus on more emerging markets, like the US over the UK.
So far, there’s no evidence of game developers or slot sites leaving the market. The pace of innovation also seems unaffected by the new rules, with the number of UK slot releases remaining the same and plenty of new mechanics, bonus features and ideas hitting the reels monthly. Rather than leaving the market, many developers have employed localisation techniques for the UK, developing one version of a game for international audiences and another for UK players (without feature-buy, auto-play and with reduced spin speeds).
Striking a balance: safety vs revenue
With more regulation and perhaps even stake limits expected in the upcoming white paper, gambling stakeholders and operators have questioned if UK regulations are going too far, becoming prohibitive to the industry and increasing the incentives to gamble offshore. The answer to this depends on attitude. Revenue generation and player safety do not need to be at odds with each other – they are not mutually exclusive and can align. Online casinos can be successful, growing revenue while putting player safety first. Still, there must be a balance, which must also be acknowledged and understood by regulators if the industry is to continue thriving.
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19/12 New Game Release – GOLDEN DRAGON DELUXE
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New Game Release from Zillion – Snow Wolf Saga
Zillion unveils Snow Wolf Saga: a bright winter slot for your casino portfolio.
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Scatters Club announced the “Dream Job”: €100 Per Day for Watching Streams.
The job will be awarded through an essay competition, and it will only last for 10 days.
The buzz around the Scatters Club Streaming Awards 2025 is off the charts! Within 24 hours of opening applications, over 200 people jumped at the chance to live the ultimate stream-lover’s dream. One week later? We’ve surpassed 1,900 applications — and we’re still catching our breath. It’s official: the world (and us) needs more stream-watching heroes.
Remember, we promised the Scatters Club Awards 2025 would be an award FOR everyone — we’re keeping that promise. Say hello to the Dream Job.
Love streams? Can’t stop binge-watching? Perfect.
We’re offering €1,000 cash and some other fancy stuff as your personal prize for doing what you do best.
The dream job offer that can make your January epic.
We’re looking for a Stream-Watching Champion — a fearless binge-watcher who’s ready to turn their couch-surfing hobby into a paid gig. Your mission? Watch streams like a pro, bring some structure to the chaos, and help us keep things running smoothly. You’ll be reviewing streams, sorting content into neat categories, and making sense of all the entertainment madness. Think of yourself as the Marie Kondo of streaming — if it sparks joy, it gets organized!
What we’re looking for:
- Age: 18+ (sorry, no minors in the binge-watching biz).
- Availability: Free throughout January (it’s fine to combine with another job; we’ll just need your free time, at least 8 hours a day).
- Skills: An iron will to sit through hours of streaming without getting bored or cranky.
- Passion: A love for streams so deep, you’ve probably dreamed in pixels.
- Honesty: Fair and unbiased judgment when categorizing content — no playing favorites!
What you’ll get:
- €1,000 salary.
- A cozy package including a Binge Watcher’s T-shirt and popcorn to keep you comfortable during your streaming mission.
- Invite as a guest to the main show on February 27, 2025.
Aunt Susan said watching streams wouldn’t pay off? Show her the paycheck!
How to apply
We don’t need your résumé — leave that for boring jobs. Instead, tell us why you’re the chosen one. Write an essay titled Why I’m Perfect for the Dream Job and sell us on your passion for streams. Bring the humor, the charm, and that undeniable binge-watching energy.
- Send your application by filling out a simple Google form.
- Use Dream Job Application as the subject line (don’t forget this part!).
Key dates to keep in mind
- The deadline is December 26, 2024. You’ve got until Christmas to secure the ultimate January gig.
- We’ll pick the candidate before New Year’s Eve and send the lucky one a “letter of happiness” on New Year’s Eve. So you can kick off 2025 in style.
Please note that this is a short-term, 10-day adventure. Think of it as a paid, stream-filled staycation. Cozy up, dive into endless streams, and get paid for it.
This is your moment. Scatters Club is calling, and your couch awaits.
Good luck, future Stream-Watching Champion!
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