UK media and data minister takes charge of Gambling Act 2005 review

UK media and data minister John Whittingdale is set to take over the Gambling Act 2005 review from sports minister Nigel Huddleston as part of a reshuffling of responsibilities at the Department for Digital Culture Media and Sport (DCMS). The switch is designed to reduce the workload of Huddleston, who is currently spearheading the return of UK sport following the Covid-19 pandemic. Serving as MP for Maldon since 1992, Whittingdale was appointed Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport under David Cameron’s Conservative government in 2015, but was later dismissed by Cameron’s successor, Theresa May, in 2016. Whittingdale has a mixed record of voting both for and against gambling regulatory issues in parliament, most notably in the debate surrounding fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs). He previously voted against giving local councils and government powers to prevent the proliferation of FOBTs and betting shops in local communities and previously voted to increase the stake and prize limits for certain categories of gambling machine. Whittingdale also voted against extending the horseracing betting levy to offshore operators and has voted against the introduction of measures requiring online operators to ban individuals who have previously self-excluded from gambling. His record has led critics to question whether Whittingdale is the right man to lead the review, which was established to provide greater protection of at-risk gamblers and to modify gambling legislation for the “digital age”.

Public support for gambling reform is overwhelming. So if the government’s going to get its gambling review right, hopefully John Whittingdale’s views have changed since 2012 https://t.co/80JM5a1ajZ

— Clean Up Gambling (@cleanupgambling) March 1, 2021

In comments reported by The Guardian, Gambling Related Harm All Party Parliamentary Group chair Carolyn Harris said: “Given the new appointee has a history of being strongly supportive of the industry, I very much hope he will be focused on the evidence and not influenced by aggressive industry lobbying.” A DCMS spokesperson said: “The minister fully supports the comprehensive, evidence-led review of the Gambling Act to ensure that legislation is fit for the digital age.” The Gambling Act 2005 review is ongoing, having launched in December 2020. At a recent Westminster Policy Forum event on the Future of Gambling Regulation, DCMS director Ben Dean suggested changes may not occur until 2022, with officials targeting an evidenced-based review aided by consultation responses from many different stakeholders. It is understood the government will release a review white paper before the end of 2021 once sessions and responses have all been collated.