The UK Playing Fee (UKGC) has outlined its framework for the statutory levy, a key final result of the Playing Act Assessment, as operators put together for the primary fee 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 way of the Playing Levy Rules 2025, the levy replaces the previous voluntary funding system below the Licence Situations and Codes of Apply (LCCP). Beneath this new mannequin, the Playing Fee will gather and administer levy funds, whereas the Division for Tradition, Media and Sport (DCMS) will present strategic oversight and set sector-specific charges.
Funds might be allotted for analysis, training, 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 training, and UK Analysis and Innovation (UKRI) will direct analysis efforts.
How the Levy Is Calculated
The levy quantity is decided by the kind of licensee and particular income streams. For non-lottery B2C operators, the calculation is predicated on:
Levy Quantity = Stakes + Different Revenue – Prizes Paid Out
“Different earnings” covers gadgets akin to match entry charges, poker rake, and monetization options. Lottery operators calculate the levy on web earnings from ticket gross sales after prize payouts, whereas society lotteries base it on web earnings from charity-linked lottery actions.
Operators incomes £10 or much less in levy obligations for a interval is not going to be required to make funds.
For the preliminary fee cycle, knowledge from July 2024 by way of March 2025 might 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 knowledge reported for April 2024 by way of March 2025.
Cost Deadlines and Compliance
Invoices might be accessible by way of the UKGC’s eServices portal beginning 1 September 2025, with fee in full required by 1 October 2025. Partial funds will not be permitted, and transactions have to be made both by way 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 might 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 include inaccuracies, notably concerning non-leviable earnings from overseas operations. Failure to report discrepancies or omissions might result in enforcement actions below part 119 of the Playing Act 2005.
Getting ready for the First Levy Cycle
With the fee 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.
Affirm entry to the eServices system.
The UKGC has additionally indicated that additional steering might be launched within the coming months to help licensees in adapting to the statutory levy, which represents one of the important regulatory updates because the Playing Act 2005 got here into impact.
Supply:
Statutory Playing Levy, gamblingcommission.gov.uk, August 22, 2025.
