Second set of UK white paper consultations go live

The UK Gambling Commission has published its latest set of white paper consultations on industry reform.

Socially responsible tools including free bets and bonuses – and ensuring they do not encourage harmful or excessive gambling – are one of the five areas the regulator is welcoming views on.

The second set of consultations will last for 12 weeks and also include proposals to empower consumers to manage their gambling through tools such as deposit limits.

Tim Milller, executive director for research and policy at the Gambling Commission, said: “The white paper set out that a top government priority is ensuring that gambling happens safely. We share this commitment and today’s consultations propose how we can deliver on it.

“We need as many people as possible to have their say on any potential changes to the rules operators must follow.

“These views will ultimately help shape gambling regulation across the country.”

Transparency of protection of customer funds and a proposal to change the frequency of reporting of regulatory returns from annual to quarterly are two other new consultations published.

First consultations reaction

The Gambling Commission has said it hopes to report back on its first set of white paper consultations in early 2024. Financial risk checks have proved the headline debate from the first tranche of consultations and have attracted particular criticism from the UK horseracing industry.

In response, the Gambling Commission, which is helping deliver the UK’s white paper reforms alongside the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, hit back at a high level of “misunderstanding” about the affordability checks from some observers in the industry.

Nevertheless, a petition calling for the government to abandon its proposals for affordability checks passed 100,000 signatures on Tuesday evening, meaning the government must consider it for debate in parliament.

Elsewhere, the government’s plans to reform the UK’s gambling tax structure have drawn criticism from the Betting and Gaming Council.