Independent review of UK gambling law

iGaming Business reported that a new independent Gambling Policy Commission in the UK has begun a sweeping review of gambling law, testing whether the Gambling Act 2005 still serves today’s market or if replacement legislation is warranted.

What happened

The Gambling Policy Commission (GPC) has opened an evidence-gathering process involving researchers, consumers, industry figures, regulators and policymakers. Its remit stretches from the foundations of the current regime to how it copes with fast-moving technology. Areas flagged include prediction markets, artificial intelligence, cryptocurrencies and gaming-style mechanics that appear in wider digital products. Will Hutton, president of the Academy of Social Sciences, pointed to the rise of prediction markets as a sign that rules “need urgent review.”

The inquiry will also look at where gambling meets finance and how oversight should work when products cross sector boundaries. Linked to this, the GPC plans to assess the reforms outlined in the Government’s 2023 Gambling White Paper and judge whether outcomes are measurable, proportionate and built on strong evidence.

Tax is a central theme. The commission will weigh how recent changes to gambling duties are landing for both operators and customers, and how tax interacts with the new statutory levy used to fund research, prevention and treatment. According to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, gambling added £5bn to UK gross value added in 2024 and supported around 75,000 jobs in 2025. HM Revenue & Customs took £3.9bn in betting and gaming duties in 2025/26, and the Office for Budget Responsibility expects receipts to keep rising. The commission noted, though, that gambling has the lowest gross value added among DCMS sectors. In the Autumn Budget, the government increased Machine Games Duty to 25%, with proceeds intended to bolster support for high streets, including business rates relief.

Enforcement and the unlicensed market are also under review. The GPC is seeking evidence on the scale of offshore and illegal play, why some consumers choose it, and what works when targeting payments, websites, search and social platforms, and app stores. A recent Gambling Commission online survey reported that 2.5% of adults in Great Britain who had gambled online in the previous year used an illegal site in the four weeks before being surveyed. Of 14,257 total respondents, 3,569 had gambled online in the previous year. Gambling Compliance International president Ismail Vali argued that participation data do not equate to illegal revenue, noting that smaller, high-intensity groups can still generate significant criminal takings.

The GPC will scrutinise gambling-related harm: how widespread it is, what drives it, how it is distributed, and the cost-effectiveness of current measures. It will also examine whether the statutory levy is delivering support for research, prevention and treatment as intended. The commission intends to consider whether future changes to the law should allow civil liability in relation to gambling-related harm. It observed that evidence on harm is often contested, complicating policy choices and questions of responsibility.

Betting’s relationship with sport is part of the brief, with British horseracing highlighted due to its close economic ties and existing statutory arrangements. The commission will consider whether sports should hold economic rights over wagering on their events and whether a statutory Sports Betting Levy should replace part of General Betting Duty. It will also review how well government departments coordinate gambling policy and whether a more formal cross-government structure is needed.

The evidence window closes on 12 February 2027. Evidence gathering and commissioned research are expected to continue through 2027, with a final report planned for 2028. The commission is chaired by Professor Jagjit Chadha, with Professor James Reade as chief economist. Its members include economists, legal and public-policy experts, academics and individuals with experience in sport and regulation. Chadha noted that the last comparable independent review was around a quarter of a century ago and said the aim is to evaluate the existing system, assess recent reforms and set out what will be appropriate for the years ahead.

For readers interested in how UK licences work, see our guide to checking a licence: /trust/licence-check. If you’re weighing how duties and levies may relate to your play, our UK overview is a useful explainer: /guides/gambling-tax. To understand sports markets better, explore our guide: /sports-betting. For tools and tips on safer play at any operator, start here: /responsible-gambling

Why it matters

• The review could lead to significant updates for online and land-based gambling, especially for emerging formats that blur the line between games, markets and finance. Clearer rules may shape product design and the range of UK-licensed options.
• A fresh look at enforcement may influence how payment blocks, takedowns and platform policies are used, which could, in turn, affect the pull of unlicensed sites versus regulated ones.
• Tax and the statutory levy are closely watched costs. Depending on findings, operators’ economics could shift, which may be reflected in pricing, features and investment choices.
• Any move toward sports’ economic rights or a Sports Betting Levy could have material implications for British horseracing and potentially other sports, with knock-on effects for bettors and event funding.
• If the commission clarifies contested evidence on gambling-related harm, it may inform future safeguards, compliance obligations and potential routes for redress.

What to watch

1. How the GPC defines the boundary between gambling and financial products, and whether it proposes joint or coordinated oversight across sectors.
2. Early verdicts on the 2023 White Paper—are measures found to be proportionate, evidence-led and delivering measurable outcomes?
3. The practical impact of the rise to 25% Machine Games Duty on machine-led venues and whether further tax changes are floated.
4. Better sizing of the illicit online market, reasons users shift offshore, and which enforcement levers show most promise.
5. Whether the commission explores alternatives to conventional remote licences, such as more restricted models or public provision.
6. The stance on civil liability for gambling-related harm and what that might mean for complaints and dispute resolution.
7. Proposals on sports’ economic rights and any design features of a potential Sports Betting Levy.
8. Timelines: evidence closes on 12 February 2027, research runs through 2027, and a final report is targeted for 2028.

Related guides

• [Responsible Gambling](/responsible-gambling)
• [Gambling History](/guides/gambling-history)
• [Gambling Tax](/guides/gambling-tax)

Source

This article is based on the report "New commission opens review into whether UK needs a new Gambling Act" published by iGaming Business on 9 November 2026.

Staying in control

• Set a budget before you play and stick to it. Only gamble what you can afford to lose.
• Use safer gambling tools, such as deposit limits, time reminders and cooling-off periods.
• Take regular breaks. Don’t chase losses, and avoid gambling when stressed or tired.
• Gambling is for adults aged 18 and over in the UK.
• If you’re worried about your gambling or someone else’s, free and confidential help is available from the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133.