UK gambling licensees and stakeholders have been notified that the Gambling Commission’s call for proposals to reduce or limit regulatory burdens will close on Friday 25 September.
The Commission initiated its exercise on 26 June as part of the Commission’s 2026/27 Business Plan. Proposals are needed to identify rules, guidance and administrative processes that could be simplified. It is a call for proposals not a consultation on specific changes.
“As cited by the Business Plan 2026/27: “We intend to support consumer focussed innovation, ensuring consistency with regulatory requirements.”
“Subject to resource, we will additionally review industry proposals to reduce regulatory administrative burdens and identify any proposals to amend regulations or improve the communication of them.
“This could involve provision of advice to government on measures that could be amended by means of legislation.”
Commission aims for better balance
The Commission says the costs of complying with regulation and demonstrating that compliance should remain proportionate to the risks faced by consumers.
The Policy and research team seek practical proposals to reduce costs without compromising the Gambling Act principal objective of “keeping crime out of gambling; fair and open gambling; protecting children and vulnerable people”.
Submission can provide feedback on current n technical standards, regulatory guidance and reporting requirements covered by the Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice.
“Your proposals may be related to current requirements or guidance that, due to the passage of time and other regulatory or legislative changes, no longer serve their intended purpose well or could be streamlined or rationalised.
Further objectives see the Commission aim to identify rules that have become out of date, unclear guidelines and requirements that overlap. Submissions should also mention risks to consumers, implementation costs and how any eventual change could be evaluated.
The Commission is unlikely to take on board detailed proposals on policies still being consulted upon. It is also unlikely to onboard recently introduced measures with yet-to-be-evaluated long term effects (revisiting those measures would require very strong evidence of adverse consequences).
The Commission has also made it clear that the exercise is not intended to reopen the consumer protection package put in place through the Gambling Act Review and 2023 white paper.