Ex-gambling boss urges Govt to stymie ‘turbocharged’ online slots

Online slots spin too fast and are fuelling addiction, one of the founders of Paddy Power has warned.

Stewart Kenny called on the Government to slow the games down, highlighting that new limits on online slot stakes do not go far enough.

From April, online slots will be set at £5 per spin for those aged over 25. Further protections for young adults are scheduled to be implemented for May, with under 25s restricted to a £2 bet per spin.

Repeat dose

In Changing the Odds, a BBC Radio 4 documentary on the betting industry, Kenny explained that “what makes a product addictive is how quickly between investment and result, and how quickly can you repeat the dose”.

“You couldn’t repeat the dose quickly in the sixties and the seventies”, he added, but now – with the gap between stake and result reduced to “only seconds” – he believes that online slots are causing problems.

Kenny said that online slots also provide “plenty of noise”, “plenty of colours”, and “near misses”, all of which he believes are “fundamental to gambling addiction”.

Students

According to the annual Student Gambling Survey, published earlier this month, almost half of those in higher education gamble to try to gain money.

The research found that 17 per cent of students who bet were identified as problem gamblers, defined as “gambling with negative consequences and a possible loss of control”.

Among those who gambled, “10% struggled to afford food, 7% faced difficulties paying for accommodation or bills, and 6% sought hardship loans as a result”.

Dr Jane Rigbye, CEO of Ygam, which commissioned the survey alongside GAMSTOP, commented: “With much of student life now digital and online, we must continue to guide and educate to increase understanding and build resilience against the potential harms of gambling.”

NHS screening

GPs have been recently advised to routinely ask patients about gambling, in addition to standard questions on smoking and alcohol.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) ‘Gambling-related harms: identification, assessment and management’ sets out recommendations to better identify those at risk from the damage caused by betting.

Under the guidelines, health professionals are encouraged to ask direct questions such as “Do you gamble?” in regular appointments such as health checks, and in cases of “increased risk” such as mental health issues, financial concerns or drug use.

NICE warns that gambling-related harm is an “increasing problem” following the “advent of online gambling and the ease of access to addictive gambling products”, but health and social care services do not routinely check for gambling addiction and most people refer themselves for support.

CI intervention

In July 2024, the Institute, which has been campaigning on the issue for over two decades, advised Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy of three areas where quick effective action could be taken to combat gambling: advertising, child protection, and online stakes.

In November, the Government announced measures including a limit to online slots stakes and a £100 million statutory levy on operators to fund research, prevention and treatment.

All operators who hold a Gambling Commission licence will also be required to pay a fee ranging from 1.1 per cent to 0.1 per cent of its Gross Gambling Yield, or the equivalent. It is expected to generate £100 million, half of which will go directly to the NHS.