The UK government is set to announce another delay in publishing a white paper outlining measures for reforming the country’s online casino and sports betting industry. 

2005 Gambling Act Review pushed further

According to The Guardian, which cited “three sources familiar with the process,” the additional delay will push the white paper’s publishing date to May 2022.

Originally scheduled to conclude by the end of 2021, the government’s review of the 2005 Gambling Act, overseen by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport, was launched in December 2020. However, due to a series of “root-and-branch” cabinet reforms requested by Prime Minister Boris Johnson in 2021, the DCMS failed not to deliver on time.

Carolyn Harris, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Gaming Related Harm, was reported in The Guardian as saying, “Of course, time must be given to gather the evidence necessary to ensure the proper reforms are implemented, but the gambling review was launched over two years ago.” Every day of delay results in further gambling-related harm, while the industry benefits. The government must not allow its internal conflicts to obstruct much-needed reforms in this country – the moment has come for action.

Last December, at the GambleAware Conference, DCMS undersecretary Chris Philp – the third minister charged with leading the gambling reform project since its establishment in 2020 – announced the white paper would be delayed until Spring 2022. DCMS indicated at the time a new departmental timeline, with the white paper to be published following the announcement of the winner of the Fourth National Lottery Licence Competition (anticipated in February/March).

This is a critical departmental responsibility since it requires the DCMS to pick the business that will operate the National Lottery for the next decade. The Labour Party condemned the news of a second postponement, stating that much-needed sector reforms were being delayed “owing to a deepening crisis inside government.”