UK Government to Evaluate Gambling Act Reforms Amid Stakeholder Collaboration

The UK government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has initiated a detailed evaluation of the Gambling Act Review to examine whether its reform measures are effectively achieving their intended goals or creating any unintended consequences. This analysis, developed in collaboration with the Gambling Commission and supported by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), seeks to assess the impact of the reforms and refine their implementation.

The Gambling Act Review white paper, published in April 2023 after a series of delays, introduced several significant updates to the 2005 Gambling Act, which predated the rapid growth of online gambling. Some measures from the review have already been enacted, including a statutory levy on gambling profits and new stake limits on online slots, both of which were confirmed last week.

The evaluation focuses on the specific policy measures introduced under the review. It aims to determine whether the measures are being delivered as planned, achieving their objectives, and avoiding unintended outcomes. To achieve this, data will be collected from both consumers and the gambling sector using diverse methodologies such as surveys, in-depth interviews, focus groups, and tracking studies.

A notable aspect of the evaluation includes the incorporation of a “lived experience panel,” which will provide insights from individuals with firsthand experience of gambling and gambling-related harm. This panel will work alongside the Gambling Commission’s existing advisory group to ensure the evaluation incorporates a broad range of perspectives.

The DCMS has announced that the evaluation report will be published in 2026, with research beginning in the coming months. The findings will consider both the individual and collective impacts of the implemented measures. “The impacts and outcomes of specific proposals will be evaluated individually, as well as in a package to understand the collective impact of policy measures that have been implemented so far and can be evaluated within the lifetime of this evaluation,” the DCMS stated.

Bryony Sheldon, director of policy for the Gambling Commission, highlighted the importance of collaboration for the success of the evaluation. An advisory group managed independently by NatCen will involve practitioners, researchers, academics, and evaluators. Sheldon emphasized that “evaluation requires involvement and cooperation from a wide variety of stakeholders. In taking forward work on the Gambling Act Review, we have engaged extensively and will continue to do so, both informally and through formal consultation, which has included questions about evaluation.

“The experience of consumers, operators, and other stakeholder groups will be a key part of the evaluation in the coming months, as we welcome participation in surveys, interviews, and other planned research,” she added.

Meanwhile, the Gambling Commission has also released new data on gambling activity in Great Britain, revealing that participation levels remain stable. The latest "Gambling Survey for Great Britain: Statistics on Gambling Participation" shows that 48% of respondents participated in gambling activities in the past four weeks, consistent with levels recorded in 2023.

Lottery draws remain the most popular form of gambling, with 20% of respondents participating exclusively in these activities. Excluding lottery participation, overall gambling activity drops to 28%.

Online gambling participation was reported at 37%, consistent with the previous year. When excluding lottery participants, the rate stands at 17%, slightly below 2023’s 18%. In-person gambling rates were steady at 29%, or 18% without including lottery players.

Scratchcards and sports betting emerged as the most popular non-lottery gambling activities, each with 12% participation. As for demographic trends, males aged 45 to 64 reported the highest gambling participation rates overall, while males aged 25 to 34 led when lottery participation was excluded.

The primary motivations for gambling were the potential for significant financial rewards and the perception that gambling is an enjoyable activity.

By fLEXI tEAM