Time to Revise: Changes to UK Gambling Act Coming Soon

The Gambling Act white paper is back.

Publication Timeline

According to iGB, this means that publication will move forward, to be published in the next few weeks to clear up previous rumours that the document could be pushed back to next year or shelved entirely which brought the white paper back into the spotlight in the first place.

Delays

An initial consultation almost two years ago was followed by numerous subsequent delays connected to personnel changes in government and at the UK Commission brought about the need for industry clarification.

Resignations

After originally being prepared for publication in July, changes such as the resignation of the minister responsible for the review Chris Philp, the resignation of former British PM Boris Johnson, and the transfer of responsibility for the document to new British Prime Minister Liz Truss all contributed to a new publication date. 

Truss Issue

The elevation of Truss to the top spot created new concerns about the future, with an article in The Guardian claiming that the Gambling Act could be among several regulatory policies to be eliminated by the Truss government. 

Long Estimates

Last week the Daily Mail published contents from DCMS Minister Michelle Donelan suggesting the review could be pushed back until 2023, with Betting and Gaming Council chief executive Michael Dugher estimating the review could take place by Christmas.  

Confirming at Close Range

Now iGB has indicated the new proximity of publication, indicating the release of the Gambling Act white paper could take place within weeks, and the iGB source calling any notion of delay “misleading."

Early Features Rumoured

Early drafts of the white paper indicate a £125 monthly soft cap on affordability and more stringent checks on players showing losses of £2,000 or more in three months.

Key Topical Theme

Undoubtedly, consumer protection guidance will be the key theme to the updated guidelines, in light of a spate of recent fines issued to UK operators for failing in this department. 

New Policy Direction

The Commission’s heightened policies regarding protection guidance came to light in April with the announcement that the UK governing body would be taking new measures to protect at-risk players, including helping gambling businesses understand and comply with the new rules coming into effect on 12 September.

Outlook

The update of the two-decades-old Gambling Act white paper should modernize the existing Act significantly and bring the two-decade old document up to date for a new proactive and preventative model of online regulation, and effectively break away from the inconvenient economic disruptions of Covid.