The All-Party Parliamentary Group (“APPG”) on Gambling Reform has launched a new inquiry calling for further changes to gambling regulation, despite the government’s 2023 White Paper having set out a comprehensive reform agenda. The APPG is a cross-party group of MPs and peers, but is not a formal parliamentary committee. It is known for consistently advocating for stronger gambling regulation and a public health-led approach.

The inquiry, announced on 17 July 2025, follows renewed political focus on gambling regulation and public health concerns raised by campaigners. It aims to assess whether the current regulatory framework remains fit for purpose in the digital age.

Scope and focus of the inquiry

The inquiry, which is accepting written evidence until 12 September 2025, is described by the APPG as a wide-ranging review of British gambling law and regulation and the policy and regulatory proposals set out in the 2023 Gambling White Paper. The group states that its objective is to assess whether the current regulatory framework is sufficient or whether more fundamental reform is needed, including the possibility of a new Gambling Act.

The APPG has indicated that the inquiry will consider how gambling regulation interacts with broader areas of public policy such as public health, financial services, the economy and taxation. In particular, it will explore whether the government’s current reform agenda sufficiently addresses gambling-related harm as a public health issue.

Specific focus areas include:

• The statutory levy and its implementation
• Stake limits for online slots and other products
• Affordability and financial risk checks
• The proposed gambling ombudsman
• Gambling advertising and sports sponsorship
• The role and performance of the Gambling Commission
• Emerging gambling products such as crypto casinos
• Land-based gambling regulation

Evidence sessions will be held in Parliament and are expected to feature contributions from gambling operators, regulators, academics, campaigners and individuals with lived experience.

Political and historical context

The APPG on Gambling Reform is a cross-party parliamentary group chaired by former Conservative Party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP. It has consistently advocated for stricter regulation of the gambling sector and has positioned itself as a prominent voice in calling for gambling to be treated primarily as a public health issue. 

Some of the group’s longstanding focus areas, such as stake limits and funding for harm prevention, were taken forward in the 2023 White Paper. However, the group now argues that the gambling landscape has continued to evolve, and that some of the White Paper’s proposals are already behind the curve in terms of adequately addressing harm.

Launching the inquiry, APPG chair Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP reiterated the group’s view that the government’s reform programme does not go far enough. He stated: “The previous government’s White Paper marked a step in the right direction by beginning to address some of the challenges posed by today’s gambling industry. However, it is clear that much more needs to be done to ensure our regulatory framework is fit for the digital age to protect people from harm.”

Labour MP and APPG vice-chair Alex Ballinger echoed this position, saying the inquiry would assess whether a new Gambling Act is needed.

The group cited recent statistics from the Gambling Survey for Great Britain indicating that 2.5% of adults scored 8 or more on the Problem Gambling Severity Index. Although these figures are contested and higher than previous estimates, the APPG argues that they highlight a shifting picture of gambling-related harm that is prompting renewed calls for legislative review.

Labour party debate and policy tensions

The launch of the inquiry comes amid growing calls from Labour backbenchers for a tougher stance on gambling. A Guardian report published on the same day highlighted concerns among newly elected Labour MPs that the party leadership may adopt a cautious approach to further reform, partly due to historic ties with the gambling industry and political donations received in the run-up to the 2024 general election.

According to the Guardian, some MPs have argued that gambling policy should be moved from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (“DCMS”) to the Department of Health and Social Care – a shift that would reflect the APPG’s public health framing. This focus mirrors language in the Labour Party’s 2024 manifesto, which committed to reducing gambling-related harm and acknowledged its health implications.

Some Backbench MPs are said to be advocating for a new Gambling Act that includes more robust restrictions on advertising, greater local authority powers to curb the growth of land-based venues, and the potential banning of the most addictive gambling products.

Alex Ballinger, who has raised concerns about gambling addiction among ex-servicemen and women, said there is also a case for reviewing whether the Department of Health should assume responsibility for gambling policy.

Whilst ministers have endorsed some of the previous government’s White Paper proposals, including the online slots stake cap and the statutory levy, they have so far avoided taking stronger positions on advertising and sponsorship rules. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has responded to recent commentary by reaffirming its commitment to implementing gambling reforms, stating: “This government is absolutely committed to reducing harmful gambling and strengthening protections for those at risk – which was a manifesto commitment – and DCMS will be leading that work now and in the future.”

The APPG’s stance does not represent official government policy, and the group operates independently of ministerial oversight or formal parliamentary committees.

Next steps

The APPG inquiry is open for written submissions until 5:00pm on Friday 12 September 2025. The group will then hold a series of evidence hearings in Parliament, dates for which are yet to be confirmed. A final report will be published with recommendations for government on how gambling policy and legislation can evolve to meet emerging challenges.

The inquiry marks a renewed effort from the APPG to influence the long-term direction of gambling regulation in the UK. Amongst the broad range of White Paper reforms, financial vulnerability checks and the statutory levy have already come into force, with new rules on deposit limits and on direct marketing opt-ins by product type due to take effect in October. Financial risk assessments remain in a pilot phase, and consultations on gaming machine standards and related technical updates concluded earlier this summer. 

It seems those White Paper reforms, which have been the subject of extensive consultation and years of work from DCMS, the Gambling Commission and others, and were described at the time in some quarters as a “once in a generation” opportunity for reform, do not go far enough for the APPG’s liking, and they will continue to press for yet stricter regulation. Whilst APPGs have no formal role in the legislative process, their reports can contribute to political debate and influence wider discourse. Whether this latest intervention will lead to further regulatory or legislative change remains to be seen.