UK gambling: apprenticeships and reputation

iGaming Business reported that UK gambling industry representatives used a panel at the Hippodrome Casino to call for more apprenticeships and a stronger public case for the sector’s role in jobs and local economies. The discussion, held ahead of Safer Gambling Week as part of a Better Change initiative, also warned that unresolved reputational issues could draw further government intervention.

What happened

Speakers from the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), Bacta and the Gambling Business Group (GBG) argued that the industry needs to show clearer career pathways while facing higher costs and tighter rules.

• Robert Gibb of Bacta said land-based operations—especially adult gaming centres (AGCs)—are under pressure because their stakes and price to play are set by government, limiting scope to pass on rising costs. He linked this to the 2026 Budget, which raised Machine Games Duty (MGD) by 5% to 25% and left uncertainty over how AGCs are treated under business-rates relief. He suggested apprenticeships could help sustain skills and progression across businesses of all sizes. Gibb also stressed that policy makers often lack a full picture of gambling and amusement venues, and that visits to shop floors can change perceptions by showcasing staff professionalism and customer relationships.
• Peter Hannibal of the GBG focused on reputation. He said the sector faces prejudice, including portrayals of high street roles as dead-end jobs, and argued the industry supports real career pathways. He said investment in people and apprenticeships can help improve public understanding. Hannibal added that media attention skews toward serious harm cases, and the sector must respond more confidently with stronger evidence. He acknowledged past missteps, pointing to fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) and noting that “history is our best teacher.” He warned that extra tax and regulation risk pushing some people away from the regulated market.
• Jack Naisbitt of the BGC highlighted roles in compliance, data, technology and safer gambling as potential career paths. He said the industry should make these opportunities more visible to school leavers and graduates. Naisbitt added that BGC members had expanded their compliance and safer-gambling teams as regulation increased, and he argued apprenticeships could turn informal training into recognised qualifications. He called for greater predictability from government so businesses can plan longer-term investments in people.

The wider regulatory context framed the conversation. The Chancellor’s 2026 Budget lifted MGD to 25%, with the government saying this would support high streets via business rates relief. Separately, the government announced plans to repeal the aim to permit rule for betting shops and 24-hour slot machine arcades, meaning AGCs in England that operate around the clock would need planning approval. Meanwhile, the newly created Gambling Policy Commission (GPC)—seed-funded by Derek Webb, founder of the Campaign for Fairer Gambling—aims to re-evaluate the Gambling Act 2005. Industry voices have questioned the GPC’s make-up, citing a lack of industry representation.

Why it matters

• Workforce development: If more operators adopt structured apprenticeships, it could widen entry points into compliance, safer gambling and digital roles. This may help retain staff, standardise skills and strengthen a safety-first culture across both online and land-based businesses.
• Reputation and policy risk: A clearer articulation of the industry’s employment footprint and career pathways may help address perceptions that retail roles lack progression. If the sector can demonstrate credible people investment, it could reduce pressure for additional restrictions. Conversely, if concerns persist, further intervention may follow.
• Cost pressures for high street venues: The MGD increase to 25%—combined with uncertainty around business rates relief for some AGCs—could squeeze margins. That may, in general terms, affect staffing levels, training budgets and local investment. The ability to maintain a visible, well-trained workforce may hinge on how fiscal and planning policies settle.
• Customer impact: Changes to planning rules and ongoing scrutiny could alter the mix and availability of venues on some high streets. For players, this may influence where and how they engage with regulated gambling, though the direction and scale of any change remain uncertain.

What to watch

1. Apprenticeship uptake: Do more BGC, Bacta and GBG members roll out formal apprenticeship pathways, and are they visible to school leavers and graduates?
2. Government clarity: Will there be firmer guidance on business-rates relief for AGCs, and broader policy certainty that supports multi-year investment in training and safer gambling teams?
3. Planning transitions: How will the end of the aim to permit presumption and the need for planning approval affect 24-hour AGCs in England?
4. GPC agenda: What priorities will the Gambling Policy Commission set as it re-evaluates the Gambling Act 2005, and how might the industry’s concerns about representation be addressed?
5. Narrative and evidence: Will operators provide more robust data on employment, skills and harm prevention to answer critics and shape public debate?

Further reading

• Understand tools and support for safer play: /responsible-gambling
• How to check a site’s credentials: /trust/licence-check
• New to casino games? See our UK guide to getting started: /guides/how-to-play-slots-uk-guide

Related guides

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

Source

This article is based on the report "UK gambling industry urged to tackle reputation and champion career opportunities" published by iGaming Business on 12 November 2026.

Staying in control

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