The British political landscape experienced a significant shake-up recently, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announcing the much-anticipated 4 July General Election. As a part of this political transition, Stuart Andrew has confirmed that he will no longer serve as a Member of Parliament or hold the title of Gambling Minister.
On May 29th, Andrew took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to make his announcement. He stated, “As of midnight tonight, Parliament will dissolve and there will be no Members of Parliament until after the General Election.” He further clarified his position, saying, “As the constituency of Pudsey, Horsforth, and Aireborough will no longer exist at this point, I am no longer a Member of Parliament.” He extended his best wishes to his former constituents, marking the end of his tenure with grace and resolve.
Andrew had been serving as the Conservative MP for Pudsey and also held the positions of Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Sport, Gambling and Civil Society, as well as the Minister for Equalities. The dissolution of Parliament subsequently means that Andrew no longer retains his role as Gambling Minister. His appointment to the gambling role came in March 2023, notably one month before the release of the long-awaited Gambling Act review white paper. His role marked the turbulent course of overseeing this crucial review, succeeding five other ministers before him.
Paul Scully was the fifth minister in this role, appointed in October 2022, succeeding Damian Collins. Prior to Collins, Chris Philp held the position. The first Gambling Minister was Nigel Huddleston, serving between 2018 and 2021, before being replaced by John Whittingdale. Andrew’s brief yet impactful term saw him taking up the mantle during a critical juncture in the Gambling Act review process.
Despite Andrew’s departure, the momentum in the gambling regulation sector is unlikely to wane. The GB Gambling Commission and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) have been making significant progress in implementing the stipulated changes from the Gambling Act review. Several critical policies from the white paper are already in active consideration or implementation stages.
In early May, the Gambling Commission laid out the next phases for some of the review’s most pressing policies which include affordability checks, online game designs, optimizing consumer choices on direct marketing, and enhancing age verification for land-based operations. These proposals were initially tabled in a consultation round last summer.
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The most noteworthy aspect of this update was the announcement of an affordability checks pilot scheme. Set to last six months, the pilot aims to ensure customers are not adversely affected by the trial, rolling out only when the data-sharing processes involved are seamless for a “vast majority” of those subject to checks. Tim Miller, the Commission’s executive director, highlighted the imminent launch of this pilot scheme as early as February.
Aside from affordability checks, the Gambling Commission also announced “light-touch” financial vulnerability assessments. This initiative will roll out in two stages, beginning in August 2024, followed by a subsequent phase in February 2025.
Additionally, significant regulatory changes are to be expected by January 2025. Certain game features that create an illusion of control, such as “turbo” and “slam stops” and autoplay functions, will be banned. Spin speeds of less than five seconds will also be prohibited. Land-based license holders, too, will face stricter age verification rules, ensuring compliance with the new regulatory landscape. Gambling companies will have to provide their customers the option to opt into specific game types for direct marketing and select the channels through which they receive this information.
Two weeks following these updates, DCMS presented a set of new land-based regulations inspired by the white paper and the ‘Smarter Regulation to Grow the Economy’ policy document released in May 2023. The proposed policies include removing the ban on debit card use for gaming machines, subject to applicable player protection rules. Furthermore, a 2:1 ratio of Category B to Category C and D gaming machines will be allowed in bingo halls and arcades. Casinos governed by the 1968 Act can increase their gaming machines up to 80, provided they adhere to the sizing regulations for Small 2005 Act casinos. An additional reform will see an age limit of 18+ for low-stake Category D slot-style machines that dispense cash prizes. Lastly, licensing fees for maximum chargeable premises will witness a 15% increase.
As the UK heads towards the 4 July General Election, the dissolution of Parliament marks both an end and a beginning. Stuart Andrew’s departure as the Gambling Minister sets the stage for a new political era, with significant reforms on the horizon to shape the country’s gambling laws and policies.
