Gambling Law Reform Deadlines Delayed Again in the UK

The completion of the United Kingdom’s gambling legislation reform is likely to be delayed again. According to the Racing Post, MPs are unlikely to publish the revised laws, known as the white paper, before going into the Easter recess.

After Stuart Andrew was appointed as the ‘gambling minister’, the government hoped to complete the work by the end of March. However, the process is still far from complete, according to available information.

The disclosure of details on changes to the regulation of the gambling industry has been repeatedly delayed since the sector reform was launched in late 2020. The situation has been exacerbated by recent Rishi Sunak’s government reshuffle, which involved the reappointment of officials responsible for gambling reform.

Parliament is due to return from the Easter recess on April 17, which gives reason to expect the publication of the white paper after this date.

However, there is a risk of further delays due to the pre-election period before local elections in England, during which it is prohibited to make political statements.

This could be grounds for postponing the completion of the reform until the second half of May.

Based on the available information, changes to the gambling industry’s regulatory norms could result in financial affordability checks for gamblers, lower betting limits on online slots.

Additionally, voluntary restrictions on partnerships with gambling companies for soccer clubs could also be implemented.