British Gambling Commission lays out timeline for upcoming changes to licence conditions

A series of changes to British gambling operators’ obligations include event reporting, consumer safeguards, complaints procedures and gaming machine compliance.

UK.- The Gambling Commission has laid out a series of revisions to the Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP) for gambling operators set to roll out over the coming months. The updates introduce fresh obligations around event reporting, consumer safeguards, complaints procedures and gaming machine compliance.

The regulator has advised gambling operators to keep up to date by subscribing to its eBulletin, as it says further regulatory updates may be introduced.

Key dates and changes in British gambling licence conditions outlined so far for 2026 include:

• March 19: Operators must follow updated reporting rules. The threshold for notifying changes in ownership or control will increase from 3 to 5 per cent. Meanwhile, the definition of “relevant persons” will expand to cover entities without share capital, though society lottery licensees are excluded. All loans deemed relevant must now be reported, whether formally documented or not. The Licensing, Compliance and Enforcement Policy Statement will also be revised accordingly.
  
• April 6: References to the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 will be replaced with the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCC). This change affects licence conditions on fairness, transparency, and marketing, aligning gambling regulation with the UK’s modern consumer protection framework.
  
• Spring 2026: Complaints and dispute resolution rules will be updated once the Department for Business and Trade activates DMCC provisions that repeal the current Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Regulations. The Commission will refresh accreditation references and remove outdated mentions of approved ADR provider lists.
  
• July 2026: A new licence condition will require non‑remote operators to remove gaming machines that fail to meet compliance standards once they receive written notice. This follows a consultation earlier in the year.

The Gambling Commission itself is going through a period of change after  It’s also yet to appoint a new chair a year after Marcus Boyle stepped down from the role. Sarah Gardner has stepped in as the regulator’s acting chief executive. The regulator still has to appoint a new chair a year after Marcus Boyle stepped down from the role.

This week, Sue Young was named executive director of operations. Meanwhile, the government is consulting on plans to increase the Gambling Commission’s fees.