Chaotic UK Government Pushes Gambling Reform into Dark Again

The UK looks to inaugurate its second replacement Prime Minister after Liz Truss announced her resignation this week. Following controversial changes she made, many felt that PM Truss was not suited for 10 Downing Street and demands for her resignation circled for a while before she stepped down.  

Media reports late last week indicated a possibility of the Gambling Reform white paper appearing before year-end. However, it now does not seem very likely. Some may wonder why it is a pressing matter if the UK is one of the longest-standing regulated regions with much success. 

What impact do the continued delays for the Gambling Reform have on the UK gambling industry?

 Curtain Call for Liz 

The UK government announced its plans to overhaul its outdated 2005 Gambling Act nearly two years ago. While Oliver Dowden was the DCMS secretary, his department delivered a manifesto pledge for the intentions of the Gambling Review on 8 December 2020, before the global pandemic hit. Among other things, the aim was to create laws ‘fit for the digital age’.

Apart from economic shifts due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the UK also faced severe political complications with multiple changes in leadership for the gambling department and a complete cabinet shuffle twice in the last year. 

The current Prime Minister, Liz Truss, stepped into her role as the new PM at 10 Downing Street approximately 46 days ago. Within her short reign, she cancelled multiple bills waiting for approval and news reports rumoured the gambling white paper could be next. Following the wave of chaos from Boris Johnson's failed government, Truss only caused more uncertainty and those with the power to sway the government spoke out against the new PM.

Within the next two weeks, the UK will have a new Prime Minister with a new cabinet. The possibility of the new government finalising the gambling reform by the end of the year seems improbable. 

 The Pressure of Uncertainty

Various media reports and industry talks mentioned certain regulatory changes operators could expect from the reform. Lobbying activities by gambling industry stakeholders also made headlines. Although the previous DCMS minister, Chris Philp, indicated the completion of the white paper before Johnson's resignation, it is yet to see the light of day.

All the while, leading operators and the UK Gambling commission attempt to anticipate the policy changes with the greatest impact. With the UKGC on the warpath to ensure operators deliver diligently on responsible gambling expectations, gambling companies work to absorb the potential blows from expected regulatory updates.

Companies like Entain and Kindred have already updated certain procedures to comply with rumoured affordability checks. These operators, and other leading gambling providers, believe updated laws and proactive business strategies toward these will spell success in the future. 

 What Now?

The complicated political climate in the UK has thrown its gambling industry and the review into chaos one more time. Uncertainty breeds rumours that feed the mess, and experts agree that the quicker a white paper arrives, the better.

Although it may seem like a sinister game of stop-and-go, we can only hope that the end of the political storm is near, and when the light breaks through, perhaps the white paper will appear after all.