Entertainment

Government overreach or necessary Reform? The UK gambling tax divide

Published

8 months ago

September 9, 2025

The UK Gambling Commission has recently released its Q1 2025-26 figures. This release covers activity through June 2025 and has landed in the middle of a heated tax and regulation row. Many are looking at this report to see where money is flowing. From the report, we can see that digital play continues to dominate, which has led to many policy questions for ministers.

The most prominent question is how the government can protect consumers without throttling a sector that supports jobs and tax receipts. Although it might seem like an abstract debate to some, the conditions around these policies affect everyday choices on stake limits, product design, and, ultimately, how operators interact with customers.

As expected, online revenue led the pack. In the report, online gross gaming yield was £1.49 billion for the quarter, which was 2% higher than in Q1 2024-25. Year on year, bets and spins climbed to 26.1 million. This was even as average monthly active accounts decreased by 10% to 12.7 billion. According to Viola D’Elia, this decrease in active accounts could be due to the increased governance over online casinos in the UK.

Operators are required to adhere to more stringent account information policies, which could be one of the reasons many online casino users are favouring reputable non-UK sites. Alongside this, many of these users are also using offshore alternatives because they offer wider payment options, better promotions, and more diverse game catalogues. Many of these sites hold licenses in Malta or Curaçao and are known for providing more freedom to players, which is why they attract users who value flexible limits and faster onboarding.

Alongside seeking more flexibility, player behaviour shifted in other ways during the quarter. Sessions on online slots lasting more than an hour fell 9% to 8.8 million and now account for 5% of total play, down from 6% a year earlier. Average session length moved to 16 minutes, a one‑minute decline. The Commission noted that several operators refined how they measure a session, which can nudge the totals. Even with that caveat, shorter sessions hint at tighter controls and more active prompts that encourage breaks or end play after periods of intensity.

New limits on stakes arrived on 21 May and will shape the coming quarters. The rules set a £2 maximum per spin for adults aged 18 to 24 and £5 for those 25 and older. Policymakers designed the cap to slow rapid losses in high‑velocity games. Operators have adjusted staking ladders, pop‑ups, and risk checks to fit the framework. It is too early to draw sweeping conclusions. For now, the headline numbers show slots revenue growing while the system absorbs the cap and customers recalibrate how they play.

High street venues faced another tough spell. Betting premises GGY fell 5% year on year to £552 million, with bets and spins in shops down 3% to 3.2 billion. Footfall costs money, so declining volume bites hard when rents, staffing, and compliance bills keep rising. Several chains have trimmed opening hours, consolidated weaker locations, and pushed customers toward account‑based play that links shop terminals with digital wallets. The winners in retail will likely be operators that turn stores into service hubs rather than pure staking points.

These numbers pour fuel on the tax and regulation debate. The Treasury wants dependable receipts. Consumer groups want limits that keep harm down. Operators warn that layered controls, higher costs, and point‑of‑consumption taxes can push heavy users to foreign platforms and reduce domestic spend. The risk is leakage: a slice of play drifts offshore, lowering taxable GGY while exposing players to uneven dispute resolution. Policymakers must weigh that leakage against the benefits of firmer guardrails.

A targeted path has supporters across the aisle. Better data sharing on markers of harm, proportionate affordability checks that focus on outliers, and faster interventions when spending patterns deteriorate can protect at‑risk customers without blanketing everyone in friction. Privacy needs respect, as does the right of adults to spend their money within the law. The Commission’s quarterly cadence helps here. It gives Parliament and industry a common set of figures to judge whether rules curb harm without distorting the market.

The months ahead will test that balance. Slots GGY and total spins hit fresh peaks in Q1, even as long sessions eased and stake caps bedded in after May. Sports betting may rebound with a stronger event calendar, yet it must compete with casino formats that deliver constant availability and quick outcomes. The tax argument will then rest on evidence, not noise.

Entertainment

The Hidden Risks of Fast-Paced Casino Games

Published

2 days ago

May 13, 2026

Staff Writer

Casino games are inherently risky, no matter what style of game or the speed of play. However, fast-paced casino games are often considered riskier because people tend to place a higher number of bets, have less self-control, and find them more engaging which can increase the amount of time spent gaming.

With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the risks of fast-paced casino games and what options are available out there to encourage slower, more thoughtful gameplay.

The Risks of High Speed Gaming

Reduced Control

When gambling slowly, there’s more opportunity to place thoughtful and strategic bets. Whereas when playing at speed, it’s easy to make more impulsive decisions. It may also be harder to stop gambling during fast games, increasing the time spent on gambling, and therefore the amount of money placed on bets.

Increased Enjoyment

A lot of people gamble because they find it thrilling. A fast paced game can add to that, making gambling even more enjoyable and desirable. While this may sound like a good thing, the enhanced enjoyment can make it harder to step away when needed.

How to Manage the Risks

While there are risks, they can be managed. Here are just some of the ways to handle the risks that come with high speed gaming.

Set Strict Limits

It’s easy to get caught up in the fun and fail to realise how much time or money you’ve spent while playing. One of the most effective ways to ensure you keep your spending to a minimum is to set yourself time limits – and actually stick to them. This way you can maintain control over how much time and money you’re putting into gambling.

Consider Using Bank Blocks

Most banks allow you to block all gambling transactions, preventing you from spending any money on these platforms.

Turn Off Auto-Fill

A great way to slow down is to turn off auto-fill, whether that be for payment cards or passwords. This can help prevent impulsive decisions and keep your gambling to a more manageable level.

Always Gamble Responsibly

Most casino sites, such as MrQ Casino, have a wide range of games, including those that are fast paced and highly engaging. But it’s important to remember that while they can be fun, they do pose a significant risk and it’s crucial to keep safe and responsible gambling in mind at all times.

Entertainment

Green Man names five finalists for Rising competition

Published

3 days ago

May 12, 2026

Tom Sinclair

FIVE emerging acts have been shortlisted for this year’s Green Man Rising final, with the winner set to open the Mountain Stage at the sold-out Welsh festival.

The final will take place at Clwb Ifor Bach in Cardiff on Tuesday, June 2, hosted by BBC 6 Music’s Huw Stephens.

Now in its seventeenth year, the competition gives new artists from across the UK the chance to perform at Green Man, Wales’ largest music, arts and science festival.

This year’s finalists are Brighton school friends Glasshouse Red Spider Mite, Leeds dance-punk duo Kiosk, Heist or Hit signees The Slow Country, Tall Child — the project of London-based Nigerian/Indian musician Zha Gandhi — and bilingual English-Welsh band Cyn Cwsg.

Organisers said a record number of entries were received for the 2026 competition. The shortlist was chosen by an industry panel featuring representatives from Clash, DIY, NME, Dazed, Wonderland, The Quietus, So Young and BBC Radio Wales.

The winning act will secure the opening slot on Green Man’s Mountain Stage later this summer, along with a week of studio time at Prah Recordings and a physical vinyl release with Dinked Edition.

The runners-up will also appear on the Green Man Rising Stage, which has previously hosted acts including The Last Dinner Party, English Teacher, Westside Cowboy, Silver Gore, Adult DVD and Keo.

Each shortlisted artist will also receive a professional recording at the festival to help showcase their music to labels, agents and promoters.

Green Man managing director and owner Fiona Stewart said: “Launching talent is at the heart of Green Man and our incredible five finalists were chosen from a record breaking number of acts.

“When Rising was launched 18 years ago we could never have imagined how many artists have been supported in their early careers. Our industry panel will choose which band will open the Mountain Stage at Green Man 2026.”

Free tickets for the Green Man Rising final are available via Dice. Those attending will also be entered into a raffle to win two tickets to the sold-out Green Man 2026.

Entertainment

Contemporary art exhibition to mark reopening of Tenby Museum gallery

Published

3 days ago

May 12, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A CONTEMPORARY ART EXHIBITION featuring work by well-known local artists and craftspeople will mark the reopening of Tenby Museum and Art Gallery’s temporary exhibition space.

The exhibition will run from Monday, May 18, to Friday, September 4, following the completion of an extensive renovation project at the museum.

Organisers say the collaborative exhibition will celebrate the creative talent of Pembrokeshire and the cultural importance of Tenby.

Curator Anita Schwartz said: “We are so excited to bring together such an inspirational collection of original pieces to showcase the creative talents of our local community.

“The artists featured exemplify the continuing cultural importance of this vibrant Pembrokeshire town.”

Artists exhibiting include Naomi Tydeman RI, John Cahill, Kim Carlow, Ivan Black, Guy Manning, Tom Sloan, Graham Hadlow, Alex MacDonald, Anna Warchus, Alec Lewis and Abigail Blaylock-Squibbs.

The exhibition will open with a private view on Friday, May 15, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, giving visitors the chance to meet the artists and view the museum’s recently refurbished galleries.

The event is open to all, but guests are asked to RSVP by emailing [email protected] by 10:00am on Thursday, May 14.

Works on display will include John Cahill’s North Pembrokeshire Landscape, which was awarded first prize in the Welsh Prize category at the Wales Contemporary Exhibition at Chelsea Barracks, London.

Other featured works include Anna Warchus’ Seaside Plate, Tom Sloan’s Tenby, Guy Manning’s Castle Hill and Naomi Tydeman’s Blue Moon, Newgale.

The exhibition takes place at Tenby Museum and Art Gallery, Castle Hill, Tenby, SA70 7BP.