Gambling Policy Commission opens UK review of Gambling Act 2005

The UK has launched an independent review of the Gambling Act 2005 to assess whether it remains fit for purpose or needs replacing in response to changes in technology, products and consumer behaviour. The newly established Gambling Policy Commission has invited evidence from researchers, consumers, industry representatives, regulators and policymakers.

Emerging products and technologies, from prediction markets and cryptocurrencies to artificial intelligence and gambling-like digital features, will be tested against current law by the commission. It will also look at products straddling gambling and finance and where the boundary lies between those activities. Prediction markets illustrate the challenge technological change poses to regulation, said Will Hutton, president of the Academy of Social Sciences, who called for an urgent review of consumer protection and tax policy.

The review will assess whether measures in the government's 2023 Gambling White Paper and reform programme have produced measurable results, were proportionate and had sufficient evidence behind them. It will examine the effects of recent gambling duty changes on operators and consumers and how those changes interact with the statutory levy for research, prevention and treatment. The review follows the government's Autumn Budget decision to raise Machine Games Duty from 5% to 25%, with the extra revenue intended to support high streets, including through business rate relief.

Illegal gambling, including unlicensed and offshore operations, will be investigated by the commission, which will also explore why people use those platforms. Enforcement measures across services such as app stores, social media, search engines, websites and payment providers are within its scope. The inquiry will also weigh conventional commercial licences for some remote gaming against possible alternatives, such as public provision or restricted licences.

Illegal gambling websites had been used in the preceding four weeks by 2.5% of Great Britain adults who had gambled online during the previous year, a Gambling Commission survey found shortly before the review. The survey covered 14,257 online respondents and included 3,569 people who had gambled online during the previous year. Ismail Vali, president of Gambling Compliance International, questioned whether the percentage reflected illegal gambling's financial scale, noting that even a comparatively small audience can produce substantial revenue for criminals.

Gambling-related harm will be examined by the commission, including its extent, causes and distribution and the costs and effectiveness of current interventions. The review will also consider the statutory levy's support for research, prevention and treatment, as well as whether future Gambling Act changes should permit civil liability for such harm.

Links between betting operators and sport, especially British horseracing, are also within the review's scope. The commission will weigh economic rights for sports organisations over betting on their events and a possible statutory Sports Betting Levy in place of part of General Betting Duty. It will also examine whether departmental coordination on gambling policy is adequate or a more formal cross-government structure is needed.

Professor Jagjit Chadha, a University of Cambridge economist, chairs the commission; Professor James Reade of the University of Reading serves as chief economist. The previous comprehensive independent review of gambling legislation was conducted about a quarter of a century ago, Chadha said.

The call for evidence closes on February 12, 2027. The commission's final report is expected in 2028, following evidence gathering and commissioned research expected to continue throughout 2027.