UK Gambling Commission To Decide Within 6 Months on Maximum Limit

The Gambling Commission boss has told a government committee on gambling that it will decide within the next 6 months whether to limit bets to online gambling firms.
Following the drastic changes to Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) by the government from £500 per bet to £2 fears are within the online gambling business that this could follow for them also.
One gambling consultant said to the iGaming Post, “ the industry could live with the removal of tv advertising and football shirt sponsorship and even VIP programmes, but if the Gambling Commission places a maximum stake on bets then this would be a disaster for the industry.”
Recently a GVC spokesperson said that if such a measure happened it could drive online players to shady illegal operators that offer higher stakes and thus creating even greater problems.
This is the problem for all sides, the industry has to look like they are doing as much as possible to reduce gambling related problems and the Commission needs to put in stronger regulations but at the same time are mindful of the damage a reduced betting limit would have.
The industry is hoping that the Commission will remove TV advertising altogether and even remove football short sponsorships overtime once those sponsorship contracts have expired and even the VIP programmes and this will be enough to keep all sides happy.
Changes are coming in the UK to the way operators work and the industry can adapt but the maximum stake introduction would cost jobs and tax income for the UK treasury for certain.
Indeed a recent survey by the NHS has found that gambling related issues have declined in recent years, the industry needs to build on this to help with their discussions with both the Commission and Government.
The next six months are going to be a nervous time for the UK online gambling business and those in charge need to convince the Gambling Commission and government that a maximum stake limit will damage both sides.