New UK Gambling Policy Commission Launches Review of 2005 Gambling Act

The Gambling Policy Commission’s official project overview describes the initiative as the most comprehensive independent examination of UK gambling legislation since the Budd Report in 2001.

The review comes more than two decades after the Gambling Act 2005 established the foundations of Britain’s modern regulatory framework. Since then, online casinos, mobile sportsbooks, digital payments and cryptocurrency have significantly changed how gambling services operate.

The commission also highlights artificial intelligence and prediction markets as emerging developments that challenge traditional regulatory boundaries.

Explaining its objectives, the commission said:

Our mission is to develop a modern legislative framework that revisits the 2005 Gambling Act.

Unlike the UK Gambling Commission, which oversees gambling licensing and enforcement, the new body operates independently of government, political parties and the gambling industry. Its role is to evaluate evidence and recommend possible reforms, not to introduce or enforce legislation.

The commission’s work covers eight principal areas, including the Gambling Act itself, the 2023 White Paper, taxation, illegal gambling, sport, gambling-related harm, technology and regulatory coordination.

One priority is assessing whether existing rules adequately address offshore gambling operators and emerging digital products. The review follows recent UKGC findings on illegal gambling participation, which identified signs of unlicensed website use among approximately 4% of online gamblers.

Taxation is another significant consideration as gambling businesses face changes to operating costs and fiscal obligations. The commission will also examine the relationship between gambling and professional sport, particularly British horseracing. This follows continued debate over gambling advertising and sponsorship restrictions in the UK.

The commission opened its call for evidence on 4 November, inviting contributions from gambling operators, trade associations, researchers, consumer organisations and regulators. Submissions remain open until 12 February 2027.

The review particularly welcomes empirical research, market data, international comparisons and evidence concerning regulatory effectiveness.

For B2B businesses, this presents an opportunity to provide information about licensing requirements, compliance costs, technological developments and the commercial effects of existing regulations. The commission will use submissions alongside commissioned academic research to inform its recommendations.

The review could contribute to future discussions about licensing, taxation, consumer safeguards and the regulation of emerging gambling-related products. It also comes as the government considers removing the Gambling Act’s ‘aim to permit’ principle, which could give local authorities greater discretion over new gambling premises.

However, the independent commission’s recommendations will not automatically become government policy. Any substantial legislative amendments would require separate consideration and the appropriate parliamentary process.

For operators, suppliers and affiliates, the immediate priority is to monitor the review and assess whether their experience could contribute to its evidence base.

The commission expects to publish its final report in 2028, potentially providing a framework for future gambling legislation across the UK.