The UK gambling industry contributes a sizeable amount to the economy of the country. As of the latest reports in 2024, it brought in over £15.6 billion.
This figure comes not only from gaming proceeds but also from tax revenues, employment, ad spending, and even sponsorships. Recently, the industry has been faced with a new challenge in the form of offshore – or non-Gamstop – casinos. These casinos operate outside the jurisdiction of the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) and, as such, are not bound by its laws. Since the UKGC is unable to regulate them, the casinos tend to play at will, pulling in UK players who want to escape the tight restrictions imposed on UK-licensed casinos by the UKGC. When players play at offshore casinos, they also spend on them, meaning the country loses out on millions of pounds of revenue annually. This poses a serious challenge from both the business point of view and the regulatory side of things.
Market Dynamics and Player Behaviour
Attraction to Non Gamstop Casinos
The main reason why UK players are attracted to non-Gamstop casinos is that they are much more flexible and offer more bonuses compared to Gamstop casinos. For example, non-Gamstop slots UK sites offer welcome bonuses that include more free spins. Regarding flexibility, the whole point of Gamstop is to allow players to self-exclude from gambling platforms for a certain period if they so wish. But there is a catch. The restriction only applies to UK-licensed casinos. This means if the player changes their mind before the exclusion period is over, they will still have to wait for it to elapse before playing. That is where non-Gamstop casinos come into play. They welcome all and have fewer restrictions.
They also tend to offer much more diverse gaming options which makes them all the more attractive. And if you’re a tech-savvy gambler, most of them now offer crypto casinos which allow you to make deposits and withdrawals in your Bitcoin or Ethereum. Not only are they safe but they are also anonymous, making them, yet again, more attractive.
Impact on UK-Licensed Casinos
The main business impact that offshore casinos have in the UK gambling market is that of loss of revenue as a direct result of increased competition. UK-licensed casinos are struggling to compete head-on because no matter how much they try to innovate, they are still boxed in by the regulations of the UKGC. Some domestic casinos can match the offerings of overseas casinos, but not for long and not in all areas. If they were to match the generous welcome bonuses, for example, they would be shaving off some of their profit margins. The competition is fierce, and non-Gamstop casinos are winning so far.
Regulatory Challenges
Non-Gamstop casinos operate from places like Malta and Curacao and are regulated by the local governing bodies within the jurisdiction of those locations. In this case, the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) and Curacao eGaming Authority.
Since the UKGC has no jurisdiction in those locations, it cannot enforce its Gamstop laws. This means players have to take responsibility for their gaming habits when playing at offshore casinos. However, authorities like the MGA also have strict gambling rules that help protect players while playing online. They ensure that casino operators implement fair gaming practices and adequate security measures, among other gambling rules.
Recently, the UKGC revised its marketing rules to prohibit unsolicited adverts. It says that players must consciously consent to receiving gambling marketing messages only via their preferred channel. This is aimed at limiting how online casinos reach out to their target audience. The main challenge here for the UK is not that it cannot enforce its laws on offshore casinos. But the positive side to this is that MGA and other governing bodies also regularly revise their rules in favour of protecting players.
Tax Revenue Loss
Overseas casinos represent a lost opportunity for tax revenue for the UK. Since the casinos are offshore, the UK government cannot tax them as it normally would for UK-licensed casinos. This can be a major loss for the industry and the UK economy as a whole, considering the industry is expected to grow by an additional £3.5 billion between now and 2029.
Player Protection Concern
Part of the responsibilities of the UKGC is to protect players from unfair gaming practices and cybersecurity threats. In 2024 alone, there were over 100 million victims of data breaches across six mega incidents, as reported by Time. This has caused online casinos, especially those offshore, to step up their security protocols.
Today, you will find that many of them have additional login features like Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) already integrated. They also have an encrypted Secure Socket Layer (SSL) to ensure that all personal data are encrypted. For processing payments securely, many offshore casinos are turning to crypto transactions. Their blockchain technology is highly secure and it has the added advantage of anonymity. Players do not have to provide their personal details to deposit or withdraw funds.
So when it comes to player protection concerns, non-Gamstop casinos have that fully addressed.
Conclusion
While non-Gamstop casinos sound exciting and attractive to players, they pose threats to the UK economy through loss of revenue. They also raise security concerns among critics. The UK Gambling Commission can reduce their popularity among players by increasing player education and awareness. Many players do not know the implications of going with offshore casinos apart from the fact that they have better offerings and more freedom. With proper awareness, the UK can claim some of its players back and thereby boost the industry.
Read more:
The Business Impact of Offshore Casinos on the UK Gambling Market