Vicky Foxcroft confirmed as new UK gambling minister
Foxcroft will replace Baroness Fiona Twycross in Andy Burnham’s administration, becoming the ninth UK gambling minister in six years.
UK.- Labour MP Vicky Foxcroft has been appointed to the role of UK gambling minister in the administration of new Prime Minister Andy Burnham. While it initially seemed that Baroness Fiona Twycross would remain in the position that she took up under Keir Starmer, the change at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has now been confirmed.
Foxcroft was first elected as an MP for Lewisham, Deptford, in 2015. She has been MP for Lewisham North since 2024. She was appointed as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the DCMS on July 22 and was previously a Junior Lord of the Treasury (Government Whip) from July 2024 to June 2025.
Her appointment as gambling minister – a position officially titled Under-Secretary of State for Museums, Heritage, Gambling and Lords – means Foxcroft will oversee the tail end of the implementation of reforms outlined in the 2023 Gambling White Paper. She takes up a role that has now passed through nine pairs of hands since the Gambling Act Review began under Nigel Huddleston in 2020.
Remaining reforms include the Gambling Commission’s phased introduction of Financial Risk Assessments and the potential for a ban on sponsorship deals with unlicensed gambling operators. Foxcroft will also take over the role of chairing the DCMS’s new Illegal Gambling Task Force.
Notably, the appointment comes just days after Prime Minister Burnham announced plans to abolish the “aim to permit” rule for gambling venues. This cornerstone of the 2005 Gambling Act requiring local councils to lean towards approving applications for gaming halls and betting shops. In June last year, Foxcroft supported an early day motion on high-street gambling reform that backed local authorities’ calls for more power to block such venues.
Foxcroft has also previously voiced concerns about what she called an “epidemic of problem gambling” and was a vocal supporter of the moves to ban the use of credit cards for gambling and to allow banks to block problem gamblers’ online transactions. She has also expressed support for banning gambling ads within live sport, which may make her a sympathetic ear to Coalition to End Gambling Ads (CEGA), which has been gaining support among local authorities.
Industry reaction to Vicky Foxcroft’s appointment
The industry lobby group the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) pre-empted the official announcement of Foxcroft’s appointment with an early statement welcoming her to the role. It took the opportunity to reiterate its call for the government to confront the illegal gambling market and ensure that future regulation is “evidence-led and proportionate.” The organisation emphasised Foxcroft’s past support for balanced policies that safeguard vulnerable groups, particularly children and young people, while allowing adults to gamble responsibly.
Chief Executive Grainne Hurst said: “We look forward to working with her to champion Britain’s casinos, betting shops and online betting, gaming and bingo businesses – an industry that brings enjoyment to millions of people, sustains 109,000 jobs, contributes billions of pounds to the economy and provides vital funding for some of Britain’s best-loved sports.”
It added: “Following the extensive changes introduced through the Gambling White Paper, it is vital that future policy is evidence-led, proportionate and fully considers the cumulative impact of regulation and recent tax increases on jobs, investment and the competitiveness of the regulated sector. We also look forward to working with the new Minister to tackle the rapidly growing illegal gambling black market, which puts consumers at risk and contributes nothing to the economy or British sport.”
The BGC also praised Baroness Fiona Twycross for her “thoughtful, open and constructive” engagement with the regulated sector during her time in office.
“She made a genuine effort to understand our members, taking the time to meet staff and visit venues across the country to see first-hand the industry’s important contribution to jobs, investment, local economies and British sport, as well as the enjoyment it brings to millions of people,” it said. “She also recognised our members’ commitment to protecting vulnerable people. We have greatly valued her engagement and wish her every success for the future.”
