The UK Playing Fee (UKGC) has outlined its framework for the statutory levy, a key end result of the Playing Act Overview, as operators put together for the primary cost cycle due from 1 September 2025. Charges are set between 0.1% and 1.1% of related income, based mostly on the character of the playing exercise.
Launched by means of the Playing Levy Rules 2025, the levy replaces the previous voluntary funding system underneath the Licence Circumstances and Codes of Apply (LCCP). Underneath this new mannequin, the Playing Fee will acquire and administer levy funds, whereas the Division for Tradition, Media and Sport (DCMS) will present strategic oversight and set sector-specific charges.
Funds will probably be allotted for analysis, schooling, and therapy (RET) to fight gambling-related hurt. NHS England will oversee therapy initiatives, the Workplace for Well being Enchancment and Disparities (OHID) will deal with prevention and schooling, and UK Analysis and Innovation (UKRI) will direct analysis efforts.
How the Levy Is Calculated
The levy quantity is set by the kind of licensee and particular income streams. For non-lottery B2C operators, the calculation relies on:
Levy Quantity = Stakes + Different Earnings – Prizes Paid Out
“Different revenue” covers objects similar to match entry charges, poker rake, and monetization options. Lottery operators calculate the levy on web revenue from ticket gross sales after prize payouts, whereas society lotteries base it on web revenue from charity-linked lottery actions.
Operators incomes £10 or much less in levy obligations for a interval won’t be required to make funds.
For the preliminary cost cycle, information from July 2024 by means of March 2025 will probably be multiplied by one and one-third to ascertain the quantity due. Lottery licensees, whose first levy interval began 1 April 2024, will base calculations on information reported for April 2024 by means of March 2025.
Fee Deadlines and Compliance
Invoices will probably be out there by way of the UKGC’s eServices portal beginning 1 September 2025, with cost in full required by 1 October 2025. Partial funds should not permitted, and transactions have to be made both by means of GovPay or a financial institution switch to the account listed on the bill.
The Fee has emphasised the significance of accuracy when processing funds, together with utilizing the complete bill quantity and guaranteeing right quantities. Errors may end in rejected funds and the danger of licence revocation.
For the primary 12 months, operators will obtain one bill for Nice Britain-based exercise, and, if relevant, a second bill for non-GB revenues. Operators should notify the Fee instantly if non-GB invoices comprise inaccuracies, significantly relating to non-leviable revenue from overseas operations. Failure to report discrepancies or omissions may result in enforcement actions underneath part 119 of the Playing Act 2005.
Getting ready for the First Levy Cycle
With the cost deadline nearing, operators are urged to take a number of preparatory steps:
- Confirm that every one regulatory returns are correct and submitted on time.
- Guarantee up-to-date contact data is supplied to the UKGC.
- Verify entry to the eServices system.
The UKGC has additionally indicated that additional steerage will probably be launched within the coming months to help licensees in adapting to the statutory levy, which represents one of the vital regulatory updates because the Playing Act 2005 got here into impact.
Supply:
Statutory Playing Levy, gamblingcommission.gov.uk, August 22, 2025.
