United Kingdom Gambling Commission Ban Online Slot Quick Spins and Autoplay

After a public consultation in July 2020, the UKGC has announced a ban on Autoplay, Quick Spins, and Reverse Withdrawals in a bid to implement tighter controls to protect players from gambling-related harm.

Stricter Controls For Online Slots

The UKGC found tighter controls are now necessary to limit ‘spin speeds’ while a total ban will be implemented on features that may encourage players to continue ‘speed up play or celebrate losses as wins’.The Gambling Commission announced as of the 31^st October operators must follow much stricter regulations for online slots. The new customer requirement enforced by the UKGC requires operators to now display a customer’s time played on slots, losses, and wins during any slot session.Online operators must remove all slot game technical features with connections to the following:

• Making slot spins faster than 2.5 seconds
• Autoplay – as players can lose track of their play
• Quickspin functionalities
• Gameplay sounds and imagery gives the illusion of a win when the return is in fact equal to, or below a stake

High Losses

The Gambling Commission underlined the necessity to remove autoplay and quick/fast spin features as these contribute to the ‘highest average losses per player of any online gambling product’.Furthermore, the UKGC has instilled further restrictions after announcing the ban of the ‘reverse withdrawal’ function. Previously, a player who requested a withdrawal of winnings was able to reverse the request and re-gamble winnings.Chief Executive of the UKGC Neil McArthur said the regulator had taken drastic action to remove all intensify play features from slots, in which evidence pointed to higher risks associated with ‘loss of player control, or binge play’.“To make online games safer we are introducing a ban on features that speed up play or give the illusion of control over the outcome. We are also introducing a ban on autoplay, losses disguised as wins, and slot spin speeds faster than 2.5 seconds. The evidence shows that these increase the risk of harm to customers.”