UK Gambling Reform Under Fresh Scrutiny as APPG Launches New Inquiry

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Gambling Reform has announced a comprehensive new inquiry into the state of gambling regulation in the United Kingdom. This move comes after two years of regulatory changes following the government’s last gambling white paper.

Led by veteran Conservative Member of Parliament Iain Duncan Smith, the inquiry will examine the effectiveness of current legislation, focusing on the 2005 Gambling Act and the proposals outlined in the 2023 Gambling White Paper. The goal is to assess whether these measures have successfully regulated the gambling industry and reduced gambling-related harm across the population.

The Plan to Leverage Evidence from Industry Stakeholders

The inquiry will welcome written submissions from a wide range of stakeholders, including gambling operators, charities, campaigners, academics, and financial service providers. Key areas of interest include whether the current regulatory framework is adequate for controlling gambling and preventing harm, how regulations could adapt to emerging technologies, and views on the proposed establishment of a gambling ombudsman.

The group is also seeking feedback on the government’s proposed liberalisation of land-based gambling regulations and how to ensure the new statutory levy for research, treatment, and prevention of gambling harm achieves its intended impact.

Alongside written submissions, the inquiry will hold a series of parliamentary hearings. Evidence collected will be managed by the APPG Secretariat and will shape the final report, which will offer formal recommendations to the government.

The Inquiry’s Scope and Objectives

The inquiry aims to:

• Assess whether current gambling laws, policies, and legislative frameworks effectively regulate the sector and reduce gambling harm in alignment with government commitments.
• Examine the potential impact of the 2023 White Paper proposals on creating an effective regulatory environment and identify areas where these proposals fall short of addressing harm reduction.
• Provide clear recommendations to the government on necessary changes to better protect the public.
• Raise public awareness about gambling-related harm and the critical role of effective policy and legislation in minimizing risks.

In addition, the inquiry will evaluate the relationship between gambling regulation and other key policy areas, including public health, financial services, criminal justice, local governance, and taxation. It will also examine the progress of key harm prevention measures such as the statutory levy, affordability checks, staking limits, and the role of a dedicated ombudsman.

The inquiry will further scrutinize the proposals to liberalise land-based gambling regulations and assess the need for reform in gambling advertising, sponsorship, marketing, and new gambling formats such as crypto casinos.

Emphasis on the Need for Stronger Oversight

Iain Duncan Smith emphasized that significant improvements are needed to ensure the UK’s gambling regulatory framework meets the demands of the digital age. He raised concerns about the Gambling Commission’s enforcement record, describing it as too lenient and critical of its failure to hold repeat-offending operators accountable.

The APPG’s inquiry is positioned as a key step in shaping the future of gambling regulation in the United Kingdom, with a focus on achieving meaningful harm reduction and more effective oversight of the gambling industry.