The culture department has announced plans for a “major reform” of UK gambling legislation to keep up with the digital age.

According to the government, problem gambling rates are higher for players in online casino games than those playing in casinos or bingo halls.

New rules, which will update existing legislation written nearly 20 years ago, will include a mandatory levy on betting firms to pay for treatment of addiction, including through the NHS.

A contribution towards treatment is currently not mandated for gambling companies, with some paying as little as £1.

The government also said that the Gambling Commission would have “tougher powers” so it can tackle black market operators through court orders and work with internet service providers (ISPs) to take down and block illegal gambling sites.

Under the new plans, there will be stake limits for online slots for between £2 and £15 per spin, as well as new player protection checks.

The move comes a month after the Gambling Commission fined William Hill over £19 million for failures including allowing a customer to spend £23,000 in just 20 minutes.

Current estimates suggest that there are around 300,000 problem gamblers in the UK, with 18-24 year olds at heightened risk of harm through gambling.

“We live in an age where people have a virtual mobile casino in their pockets,” said culture secretary Lucy Frazer. “It has made gambling easier, quicker and often more fun, but when things go wrong it can see people lose thousands of pounds in a few swipes of the screen.”

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