Gambling Policy Commission launches UK legislation review
Regulation2 min read
The Gambling Policy Commission (GCP) launched a review of the UK’s gambling legislative framework on 9 November. Its call for evidence, open until 12 February 2027, invites submissions on areas including the Gambling Act 2005, reforms from the 2023 Gambling White Paper and consumer protections. The GCP said it would assess the existing framework and consider whether further reform is needed.
The Gambling Policy Commission (GCP), a newly formed independent group of experts, has launched a review of the UK's gambling legislation to assess whether further reform is needed.
Written evidence is being sought from people and organisations interested in gambling, the GCP said, including consumers, researchers, operators and treatment bodies. The call opened on 4 November and will run through to 12 February 2027. Topics include how the Gambling Act 2005 operates, the impact of reforms in the 2023 Gambling White Paper, offshore gambling, consumer safeguards, gambling-related harm and coordination across government. Empirical material, research, data and comparisons with other countries are especially welcome.
The group will be chaired by Jagjit Chadha OBE, a University of Cambridge economics professor, while University of Reading economics professor James Reade will serve as chief economist. Its members come from fields including law, health, economics, public policy, academia and sport.
More than 20 years have elapsed since the last comprehensive independent review of UK gambling regulations, GCP chair Chadha said. The group acknowledged that recent action, including the 2023 White Paper, had addressed certain issues. It identified the 2001 Gambling Review Report, commonly called the Budd Report, as the last fully independent review. The review aims to examine the existing framework, evaluate newer reforms and consider what legislation and regulation will be suitable in future.
The UK Gambling Commission said it had no affiliation with the GCP. The GCP is expected to file its final report in 2028.