Northern Ireland to publish full gambling reform review in 2027

Northern Ireland's communities minister, Gordon Lyons, said a full review of gambling reforms will be published in 2027. The review will examine the effectiveness of the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Amendment) Act 2022, with the aim of producing a detailed assessment based on evidence that can help shape future policy.

Lyons, who is in office until May 2027, said he could not make further commitments during the current mandate. He noted the complexity of gambling regulation and the speed at which the sector changes. The minister has asked his officials to continue examining and gathering evidence on the protections in the law already in force, so that any gaps can be identified for action in future.

Concerns remain in Northern Ireland about treatment and support services for people harmed by problem gambling. Representatives of the health sector and industry operators have highlighted the need for more effective awareness and education programmes on problem gambling, according to the report.

Questions also remain over whether Northern Ireland lags behind Ireland and other parts of the United Kingdom in the availability of specialised treatment services for problem gambling harm and in regulation of the sector. Unlike England and Wales, Northern Ireland has no clinics dedicated to supporting people affected by problem gambling and no funding mechanism equivalent to the new British gambling tax, the report said. Sinn Féin MP Phillip McGuigan asked last year for the legislative process to be accelerated to introduce a similar tax proposal in Northern Ireland.