The UK Gambling Commission’s Deputy Chief Executive, Sarah Gardner, declared that the initial round of discussions on the Gambling Act Review White Paper will be made public this summer.
Gardner stated that preliminary consultations with interested parties have already commenced in certain policy areas. Although she indicated that it’s premature to disclose specific details, she assured that the regulatory body would disseminate further information in the near future.
Numerous provisions detailed in the White Paper will undergo additional consultations by the Gambling Commission and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) following their release this month to ascertain how these measures will be implemented.
Gardner conveyed these remarks at the Gambling Commission’s annual gathering, where she served as the principal speaker.
Gardner emphasized the Commission’s commitment to prioritizing its endeavors. The Deputy Chief Executive noted that the implementation of the White Paper “might require several years to reach completion,” but she underscored that this does not preclude the Commission from making swift progress in certain key domains.
Consequently, Gardner emphasized the need for both the Gambling Commission and the government to prioritize their work. She asserted that during consultations, they must “ensure they are progressing in the appropriate direction.”
The committee, as Gardner emphasized, is dedicated to making sure a wide array of experience and knowledge shapes the white paper’s policy objectives into practical reality.
“Throughout my own professional journey in public service, both within government and regulatory bodies, I’ve encountered numerous instances where well-intentioned policy alterations have yielded unforeseen repercussions for the public due to the manner in which the policy was put into practice,” she stated.
“Therefore, trust me, we will exert every effort to circumvent such an error in execution. A measured and deliberate approach is the key to success.”
The quantity and breadth of the measures the government deems essential for further discussion after the white paper’s release have ignited controversy in certain circles, prompting debate.
While some have asserted that this is attributable to the backlog of parliamentary legislation stemming from Brexit, Liberal Democrat MP and chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Gambling Reform, Lord Don Foster, conveyed to iGB that numerous actions could be taken without substantial legislation.
“For instance, the 2005 Act contains a provision granting the Secretary of State the authority to introduce statutory levies,” Lord Foster remarked. “The minister possesses the discretion to implement this in any way they deem appropriate – the power already exists.
“We don’t require extensive legislation.”
As a result, the justification that there will not be sufficient legislative time – “we have the Cybersecurity Bill, and we have a multitude of other bills progressing through Parliament” – is simply not valid.
In the meantime, some are worried that discussions could be postponed until after the 2024 election, when the current administration might not retain a majority in the House of Commons.
Nevertheless, Stuart Andrew, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Sport, Betting and Civil Society, stated at a press conference that this was not the situation.
He declared: “Our objective is to have everything implemented and in position by next summer, so that we can be prepared for the subsequent election.”
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