The UK Gambling Commission will introduce a number of major restrictions on online casino games starting in January. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has been busy releasing a raft of new measures on the back of the government’s white paper on gambling legislation last year. In addition to rolling out a six-month pilot scheme for controversial new affordability checks, it is getting ready to curtail numerous features that are hallmarks of online casino games.

hopes will help consumers become more aware of what they’re playing and help limit their losses

The regulator’s goal is to reduce the intensity of these products, which it hopes will help consumers become more aware of what they’re playing and help limit their losses.

Starting on January 17, 2025, the UKGC is enforcing a ban on online casino games offering autoplay, speed-up features, in-game celebrations when a win is lower than the original stake, the ability to play numerous games at the same time, and spin speeds that are quicker than five seconds. Some online platforms have voluntarily stopped offering some of these features since 2021.

Another requirement for operators will be to always display the length of time a person’s current playing session has lasted and their net spend.