UK Gambling Act white paper could face additional delay due to further governmental reshuffle
It has been a tumultuous time in UK politics of late. This has not only included the downfall of Boris Johnson as Prime Minister in July 2022, but also the race to succeed him. While Liz Truss did bag the biggest job in UK politics eventually, she did not last long and resigned in October 2022.
This amount of uncertainty not only led to the British pound falling to a 37 year low against the US dollar at $1.13040 in late September 2022, but also had its own impact within Westminster. Although Rishi Sunak has now been appointed as new PM, uncertainty as his newly reshuffled cabinet settles in is not yet over completely.
UK Gambling Act white paper could face delay
As reported by ITV News, the arrival of Rishi Sunak into Downing Street seems to have had a stabilising effect on the UK economy. Despite this, a new face in Number 10 and the extra round of cabinet changes this delivered could have a less than positive impact in other areas.
One example is the long-awaited white paper on the UK Gambling Act. It has been suggested that this could be a victim of more change in the corridors of power, as the expected publication in late 2022 under Liz Truss has now become a distant memory.
In response to any subsequent delay which could occur, Giuseppe Faraone from respected CasinoTopsOnline commented: “It is hoped that the white paper on the UK Gambling Act will be published soon, and that it will not face more significant delays.”
UK Gambling Act – where are we up to?
When you consider that 2020’s UK Gross Gambling Yield was thought to be around £5.89bn per annum, it is clear what a huge sector this is. The UK Gambling Act white paper is an attempt by the government to review gambling legislation and look at offering more protection to online gamblers.
Originally slated for release in 2019, it has been delayed multiple times. This has been down to the revolving door of ministers and Prime Ministers in UK politics recently. Due to the impact of more upheaval in government, we could now see it set back again.
Damian Collins remains in situ
Although Rishi Sunak’s new cabinet may have included a raft of changes, this was not true for Damian Collins, who has kept his position as Minister for Tech and the Digital Economy within the department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
As the white paper on the UK Gambling Act is published by this department and Collins remains the man responsible for its launch, it is hoped this level of stability might allow it to surface sooner rather than later.
What might the white paper contain?
The truth is that no one knows for sure what the long-awaited white paper on the UK Gambling Act may contain. This has in turn left the whole iGaming sector in the country nervously awaiting any findings and trying to anticipate what it could include.
Many operators in this industry worry that tighter restrictions could be placed around bonus offers, welcome packages for new players and loyalty programs. It is also expected that questions over gameplay features, staking and Blockchain tech in iGaming will form part of the white paper.
What impact could the white paper on the Gambling Act have?
In terms of the impact on the gambling sector within the UK, the white paper and any subsequent changes to gambling legislation could be huge. With just 16% of casino players online happy to provide extra documentation to facilitate tighter identity checks which might be recommended, it is clear that changes could reduce the number of players that online gambling sites attract.
A raft of stricter regulations could also spark growth in black market, illegal gambling in the UK. If players tire of excessively strict rules placed on regulated gambling, they may well look to black market platforms instead. This would not only be harmful to player safety but also lead to a reduction in tax revenues coming into UK coffers from legal gambling operators.
Delay seems imminent for UK Gambling Act white paper
Although it has not been confirmed officially to date, it does seem likely that we will see yet another delay to the white paper on the UK Gambling Act. With the arrival of another PM and another cabinet into Downing Street, we imagine that this will be low on their list of priorities.
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