Can the self-appointed Gambling Policy Commission persuade Labour?

A new body has emerged in the UK gambling sector. The Gambling Policy Commission (GPC) aims to independently review the Gambling Act 2005. Because the Commission is not a state body, it has no direct influence over public policy. Its main goal is to shape the debate and influence government decisions.

The Commission says it is independent of government, political parties, regulators and the industry. However, its initial funding comes from Derek Webb, a former gambling advocate who became a supporter of reform. Webb was the main backer of the Campaign for Fairer Gambling group. When the Conservative government of Theresa May cut the stake limit on B2 machines from 100 pounds to 2 pounds in 2018, Webb described it as his greatest achievement. The decision followed pressure sustained by the Campaign for Fairer Gambling and Stop the FOBTs campaigns, which Webb supported.

The Commission's central claim is that the 2005 Act is no longer up to date for the digitally driven market of 2026. However, a three-year government review led by DCMS also aimed to update the legal framework. That review ended in April 2023 with a White Paper, and its proposals, including those on affordability, are still being implemented. This shows why the Commission's claim is contested.

The Commission's newly appointed chair is Jagjit Chadha, an economics professor at Cambridge University. Chadha said the last comprehensive independent review of the legal framework was carried out a quarter century ago, and that both the market and the technological environment have changed significantly since then. The Commission said it will assess how the 2005 Act has been applied, the impact of recent reforms, and which legal framework is appropriate for the years ahead.

A call for evidence has been issued for the review. Interested parties can submit their evidence through the Commission's website until 12 February 2027. All submitted documents will be published.