Today the government have announced that from October 2021 you will need to be over 18 to play any National Lottery game, including scratch cards. Online buying of these will actually change earlier, from April 2021 you will need to prove you’re over 18. This is the start of what will be the biggest change in gaming legislation since the 2005 act.
The government are under pressure with the 2005 act being referred to as "an analogue law in a digital age". Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said the industry had "evolved at breakneck speed" and the aim of the review was to tackle "problem gambling in all its forms to protect children and vulnerable people".
The government is canvassing views on the legislation in the form of a call for evidence, which will run for 16 weeks until the end of March 2021. The Gambling Commission's role and powers will also be looked at, as will promotional offers and whether extra protections for children and young adults are needed.
So what could this mean for gamers going forward? It is likely that there will be a crackdown in the offers that gaming sites will be able to offer. This will mean less deals and less choice for you the consumer. It will of course mean that your gaming budget is likely to not go anywhere near as far, forcing you to game less or increase your gaming budget, with the likely economic backlash from the Corona pandemic, the latter seems an unlikely option for most gamers. Why not make the most of some amazing online deals through the #ReelWorldSlots website before they’re taken away for good.
Your online gaming time is likely to be monitored and restricted too. You’re likely to have prove your identity on all gaming websites and be restricted in both your stake and playing time. There are calls from some anti-gambling groups for people to have credit checks as part of the online gaming experience and limited to what can be gambled via this, rather than leaving it to personal choice.
For the industry itself their ability to attract customers will be severely limited, not just because the bonuses they can offer will be curtailed, but also because there is a suggestion, that like tobacco products in the 1980’s, there is going to be a total ban on any gaming sites or bookmakers from sponsoring any sporting event or team. This in turn will have a huge impact on grassroots sports such as football, with lower league clubs heavily dependent on the money these current sponsorships bring.
Could this be the beginning of the end for online gaming as we know it? Could arcades be shut to anyone under 18? How will this effect our favourites, like #OnetecArcade as visited by #HairySlotters? Do you feel the government are going to far to protect the small percentage of problem gamers? Share your thoughts below.
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