UK National Lottery to Raise Age Limit to 18

The United Kingdom National Lottery has announced that the age requirement for players will be raised from 16 to 18. The newly introduced regulation is set to take effect in October 2021. The regulation comes as the Government moves to crackdown on gambling.

The government has announced that there will be a major and wide-ranging review of the gambling industry in the United Kingdom, and the review will bring limits on online stakes and restrictions of advertising. It was also announced that betting companies will possibly be banned from sponsoring football shirts.

The regulations that are currently in effect were established in 2005, and are perceived as analogue laws in a digital age. It is the opinion of the government that the industry had evolved at a staggering rate and that the goal of the review is to engage with problem gambling in all forms and protect children and vulnerable people.

Media Comments

Officials from the government say that the patterns of play have shifted towards online games and that they are raising the minimum age requirement to protect people from gambling-related harm.

“We’re committed to protecting young people from gambling-related harm, which is why we are raising the minimum age for the National Lottery. Patterns of play have changed since its inception, with a shift towards online games, and this change will help make sure the National Lottery, although already low-risk, is not a gateway to problem gambling,” said Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston.

Aside from tackling age restriction, the review will also examine the actions that customers take when they feel that operators are breaching social responsibility requirements.

Labour’s shadow culture secretary, Jo Stevens said that it is disappointing that the government has taken over a year to begin the review and that the people are suffering with gambling addiction and are not receiving vital .

About the UKGC

The Commission was set up under the Gambling Act of 2005 in order to regulate gambling in Great Britain together with licensing authorities. It also regulates the National Lottery.

Additionally, it issues licenses for license holders, gambling premises and heavily promotes responsible gambling.

The Commission operates as an executive non-departmental public body of the Government of the United Kingdom. The main goal of the Commission is to keep crime away from gambling and to protect the end-s. They also consult the government on gambling-related issues.

Source:

“UK National Lottery players must be over 18 from next year”, theguardian.com, December 9, 2020.