UK review raises prospect of a new Gambling Act
An independent commission will examine whether gambling laws can still address technologies such as prediction markets, AI and cryptocurrencies.
Key takeaways
- The Gambling Policy Commission has launched a major review of UK gambling legislation and opened a call for evidence.
- The review will assess whether the Gambling Act 2005 remains suitable for modern gambling markets.
- Emerging areas including prediction markets, artificial intelligence, cryptocurrencies and gambling-like digital products will be examined.
- The commission will review gambling taxation, illegal gambling, gambling harms and the impact of the 2023 Gambling White Paper reforms.
- A final report is expected in 2028, with evidence submissions open until February 12, 2027.
A newly formed independent body has begun a comprehensive review of UK gambling laws that could result in the most significant legislative rethink of the sector in more than two decades. The Gambling Policy Commission will assess whether the Gambling Act 2005 remains fit for purpose in a market increasingly shaped by new technologies, evolving consumer behaviour and changing regulatory priorities.
UK.- A newly established independent body has launched a comprehensive review of UK gambling laws, raising the prospect of a new Gambling Act to replace or significantly update the framework that has governed the industry for more than two decades. The Gambling Policy Commission (GPC) has opened a call for evidence from researchers, consumers, operators, regulators and policymakers as it begins examining whether the Gambling Act 2005 remains suitable for today’s gambling market or whether fresh legislation is required.
The review is being led by Professor Jagjit Chadha, an economist at the University of Cambridge, with Professor James Reade of the University of Reading as chief economist. The CPC’s membership also includes specialists in economics, law, public policy, sport and regulation.
The review comes more than 20 years after the current legislation created the Gambling Commission, established the industry’s licensing objectives and laid the foundations for the regulation of commercial gambling across Great Britain. Among its key areas of focus will be emerging technologies and products that were not envisaged when the legislation was introduced.
An extensive government review of the Gambling Act was already carried out between 2020 and 2023, drawn out due to multiple changes at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport amid the Conservative Party’s leadership issues. That led to the publication of the 2023 gambling white paper, which set out several regulatory reforms that are still underway.
The CPC suggests that its independent review will go over some of the same ground, but it will also assess whether the existing legislation can adequately deal with more recent developments such as prediction markets, artificial intelligence, cryptocurrencies and gambling-like mechanics within digital products. Particular attention is likely to be placed on the increasingly blurred boundary between gambling and financial services, considering how regulators should approach products that combine elements of both sectors.
The commission will also evaluate the impact of the 2023 Gambling White Paper reforms, examining whether the measures have delivered measurable outcomes and whether they were evidence-based and proportionate.
Taxation has been identified as another major area of review. The commission plans to assess how recent changes to gambling duties affect both operators and consumers, while also examining how tax policy interacts with broader regulatory measures such as the statutory levy for gambling research, prevention and treatment.
As part of that work, the inquiry will consider the economic significance of the gambling sector. HM Revenue & Customs recorded £3.9bn in betting and gaming duties during the 2025-26 financial year, with revenues expected to continue increasing amid the upcoming rise in General Betting Duty and the recently announced increase Machine Games Duty in the Autumn Budget. However, the GPC noted that gambling generates the lowest gross value added contribution among sectors overseen by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Illegal gambling and the effectiveness of enforcement measures will also come under scrutiny. The commission intends to investigate the scale of offshore and unlicensed gambling activity, why consumers choose to use such services and whether existing enforcement tools involving payment providers, websites, search engines, social media platforms and app stores are effective.
The inquiry will additionally consider whether certain forms of remote gambling should continue under the current commercial licensing model or whether alternative approaches, including restricted licensing systems or public provision, warrant further examination.
Gambling-related harm will form another major strand of the review. The commission will examine evidence on the scale and causes of gambling harms, how those harms are distributed across society and whether existing interventions offer value for money and effective outcomes. It will also assess the impact of the new statutory levy on funding for research, prevention and treatment services and whether future reforms should create a framework allowing civil liability claims.
Another theme will be the relationship between betting and sport, particularly the longstanding financial links between bookmakers and British horseracing. The review will consider whether sports should hold economic rights over betting activity linked to their competitions and whether a statutory Sports Betting Levy could eventually replace part of the existing General Betting Duty framework.
Chadha said the review represents the first broad independent examination of gambling legislation for around 25 years. “Since then, both the gambling market and the wider technological environment have changed considerably,” he said. “Our purpose is to examine the evidence carefully and independently: to understand how the existing framework has operated, assess the impact of more recent reforms, and consider what legislative and regulatory framework will be appropriate for the years ahead.”
The GPC’s call for evidence will remain open until February 12 2027. Research and evidence gathering are expected to continue throughout next year, with a final report scheduled for publication in 2028.
FAQs
What is the Gambling Policy Commission reviewing?
The commission is examining whether the Gambling Act 2005 remains suitable for today’s gambling market and whether new legislation or major reforms may be required.
Which gambling issues will the review cover?
The review will examine prediction markets, AI, cryptocurrencies, gambling harms, illegal gambling, taxation, sports betting regulation and the impact of recent reforms.
Could the review lead to a new Gambling Act?
Yes. The commission has been tasked with assessing whether the existing legislative framework should be updated significantly or replaced by new legislation.
When will the review be completed?
The call for evidence will remain open until February 12, 2027. Research will continue throughout 2027, with the final report scheduled for publication in 2028.
Will illegal gambling be part of the review?
Yes. The commission will investigate the scale of unlicensed gambling, the reasons consumers use such services and the effectiveness of current enforcement measures.
