Review of Northern Ireland gambling reforms to come in 2027
A review will analyse the effectiveness of Northern Ireland’s Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Amendment) Act 2022 but further reforms are likely to be some way off.
Key takeaways:
- Northern Ireland’s Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has confirmed a full review of the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Amendment) Act 2022 will be delivered next year to assess its effectiveness and help shape future gambling policy.
- Lyons declined to commit to further gambling reforms during the current Assembly mandate, saying future legislation will be a matter for the next minister.
- The debate remains heavily focused on public health concerns, with Northern Ireland lacking the specialist gambling harm treatment infrastructure and funding models seen in England and Wales, despite survey data showing 3 per cent of adults are considered at risk of gambling harm.
UK.- Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has said that a full review of Northern Ireland’s 2022 gambling reforms will be published next year. Answering a question in the Northern Ireland Assembly from Sinn Féin MLA Phillip McGuigan, the minister said the review will examine the effectiveness of the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Amendment) Act 2022 with the aim of producing a detailed, evidence-led assessment that can help shape future policymaking.
Lyons said he could not commit to additional reforms during the current mandate, pointing to the complexity of gambling regulation and the pace of change across the industry. He is to remain in office until May 2027.
“It will be for a future Minister to determine the details of the gambling legislation that should be taken forward in the next mandate,” Lyons said. “I have, however, instructed my officials to continue to scope and gather evidence on the statutory protections that are already in place.
“That will help identify deficiencies that may need to be addressed through a future reform Bill, while ensuring that existing protections are maximised in the interim.
“It is very much a health issue as well. I commit to working with the Health Minister to ensure that we can do what needs to be done to tackle it, because it has a huge impact on people’s lives; on the education of our young people; and, certainly, on the physical and mental health of our population.”
Concerns remain over education, treatment and support services for those experiencing gambling-related harm in Northern Ireland. A key issue highlighted by health advocates and industry stakeholders is the need for stronger awareness and education programmes targeting problem gambling.
Research published in 2025 examining gambling behaviour in Northern Ireland indicated that stigma may still discourage some people from seeking help. Of the 1,124 gamblers surveyed, only 1 per cent reported contacting mental health services during the previous 12 months.
Questions have also persisted over whether Northern Ireland is falling behind Ireland and other parts of the UK in the provision of specialist treatment services for gambling harm as well as in the regulation of the sector.
While England and Wales have dedicated clinics staffed by specialists trained to support people affected by gambling addiction, Northern Ireland currently has no equivalent service. Nor is there an equivalent financing arrangement to the new British gambling levy.
McGuigan last year called for legislation to be expedited to introduce a proposed comparable gambling levy in Northern Ireland. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended that Northern Ireland introduce a similar approach to Britain as has the Department of Health. However, the cost and regulatory changes required continue to make such a development appear some way off.
