Gambling Policy Commission opens call for evidence on prospective new UK gambling act
An independent panel led by academic economists is examining whether the Gambling Act 2005 requires full replacement in response to the rise of digital gaming.
- The Gambling Policy Commission has launched a call for evidence to examine whether new primary legislation is required for the UK gambling sector.
- Commission chair Jagjit Chadha noted that 25 years have passed since the last comprehensive independent review of the nation's gambling laws.
- The inquiry is seeking empirical data on the 2005 Act, the 2023 white paper reforms, gambling taxation, and illegal gambling.
A newly established Gambling Policy Commission has launched an independent call for evidence to evaluate whether the United Kingdom requires a new Gambling Act to respond to the growth of the igaming sector since the 2000s.
The commission was created to deliver an independent, evidence-based assessment of the statutory framework set out in the Gambling Act 2005. Its primary mandate is to evaluate whether further reform is required, including the question of whether lawmakers need to bring forward new primary legislation to govern the market.
Academic leadership and historical gap
The inquiry is led by prominent academic economists. Jagjit Chadha OBE, a professor of economics at the University of Cambridge, serves as chair of the commission. Working alongside him is James Reade, a professor of economics at the University of Reading, who serves as the commission's chief economist.
Chadha noted that 25 years have elapsed since the last comprehensive independent review of UK gambling legislation took place. In the intervening quarter of a century, the rise of the igaming sector has transformed the gambling landscape, prompting the body to examine whether the legal foundation established in 2005 remains fit for purpose in the digital era.
Scope of written submissions
As part of the consultation process, the commission is inviting written evidence across several key areas of gambling policy. Contributors are invited to submit evidence examining the Gambling Act 2005 itself, as well as the ongoing reforms arising from the government's 2023 policy white paper.
Submissions to the commission may also focus on gambling taxation and the market presence of illegal gambling. In evaluating these areas, the commission has stated that it is particularly seeking empirical evidence, academic research, relevant data, and international comparisons that benchmark the UK against other regulatory jurisdictions.
Broad stakeholder engagement
To build a rigorous and balanced record, the commission is seeking contributions from across the industry and wider civic society. Written evidence is being invited from academic researchers, consumers, licensed gambling operators, and trade bodies representing the sector.
The call for evidence also encompasses organisations working in gambling treatment and prevention, sports organisations, statutory regulators, and policy makers. In addition, the panel has welcomed input from any other parties who have relevant experience or evidence to present.
Through this evidence-gathering exercise, the commission intends to assess whether existing statutes provide adequate regulatory control or whether recommending new primary legislation is necessary to modernise British gambling law.
