UK Gambling Act White Paper Imminent: Digital Strategy Splits From DCMS

The British administration has declared a restructuring of the division in charge of betting, with digital strategy now being detached from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

The Prime Minister outlined plans to establish a new Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and “realign” the DCMS, which will no longer encompass the digital realm.

The newly formed DSIT will be headed by the former Culture Secretary, with taking over her role at the streamlined DCMS. is the representative for South East Cambridgeshire, which encompasses Newmarket’s July Course and the National Stud.

These alterations occur as the government is on the verge of releasing its long-awaited Gambling Act White Paper. The white paper was initiated in 2020 and has faced several postponements, including due to the 2022 government reshuffle.

It remains unclear whether gambling will continue to be under the jurisdiction of the department that oversees sports or be transferred to the DSIT. It has also not been confirmed whether the Minister for Gambling will remain at the DCMS.

Towards the end of the previous month, stated that the white paper would be made public “in the coming weeks,” but cautioned that its release was not the conclusion of the process.

The document isn’t the last word on gambling reform, he stated. It’s simply the beginning of a dialogue. We’ll be collaborating with the Gambling Commission to gather feedback and ensure the modifications we implement are the appropriate ones. We desire the industry to participate in every stage of the process, from refining the policy to its implementation.

We’re putting the final touches on the document and preparing for its release. It’s only a few weeks away, and then we can begin working on the specifics and making the changes a reality.

The UK government commenced an examination of the 2005 Gambling Act in December 2020. They aimed to determine if adjustments were necessary regarding aspects such as betting limits, the Gambling Commission’s role, and advertising levels. They collected information for 16 weeks, concluding in March 2021.

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