The UK’s Gambling Minister Turnover Problem
Since 2018, the United Kingdom has had a total of eight different gambling ministers. The latest, Paul Scully, was appointed earlier this month. Unfortunately, due to the UK’s constant leadership shuffle, minister turnover has become a common problem and has led to instability in the industry and a lack of faith in political oversight.
The UK’s new gambling minister has industry approval, but will he be able to get the White Paper published? David Monaghan/Unsplash
Paul Scully: The latest of eight ministers
Most people paying any attention to UK news are aware that 10 Downing Street — the residence of the Prime Minister — has been the site of constant changes in the last few months, as has been the Minister’s Cabinet. With each new PM — Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and now Rishi Sunak — ministerial choices have also changed.
The issue of course starts earlier. Since the Brexit vote and the stepping down of David Cameron from his PM role, the Cabinet has reshuffled many times with changing political tides. Paul Scully — the latest minister for gambling within the Department of Culture, Media and Sport — has ample experience in office but it is still not guaranteed that he will fare better than his predecessors in the role.
The main worry associated with these constant changes is whether political drive can be sustained over a longer period with so many different leaders taking the reins. For industry leaders and gaming fans alike, the future of gaming in the UK feels particularly uncertain. For example, not every PM has the same attitude towards gambling, which means their choices of leadership will likely reflect their stance.
UK White Paper on hold
The gaming industry has long awaited a White Paper, otherwise known as the Gambling Act Review, to be published about the state of gaming in the United Kingdom. With every new leader appointed, the review has been delayed. Industry leaders like Betting and Gaming Council CEO Michael Dugher have welcomed Scully to the position, and surely hope that he will help the review move forward in a timely manner.
The industry has some expectations about what will be in the review already, including a number of reforms to make gaming safer for customers in the UK. Affordability limits may come into play starting with £125 in net losses ($150 USD) over a month’s time, or £500 ($600 USD) over a year. A loss of £1,000 ($1200 USD) over 24 hours would kick off closer investigation into a customer’s finances.
It is also expected that “smart stake” limits will become the standard for online slot games with stakes ranging from £2 ($2.41 USD) to £25 ($30 USD) per spin. These would also be incorporated only after financial checks, depending on the customer’s losses.
VIP programs for online betting better platforms are also under the magnifying glass and are likely to get heavily reformed. The paper will also look into the practice of offering bonuses depending on how much a player is earning or losing.
High on players’ priority lists for reforms are wagering requirements. For those playing with online casinos, even on reputable platforms, it is normal to encounter requirements having to do with how much one bets before one can withdraw advertised bonuses. Players often complain that these requirements are complicated to understand and difficult to meet.
So far, news around the review has not mentioned anything to do with wagering requirements, though the Gambling Commission does worry that these encourage players to bet more than they would otherwise. It remains to be seen whether this will be addressed for the benefit of players or if gaming platforms will be allowed to continue stipulating complex rules as they see fit.
With several UK betting houses receiving fines in the last years, including Betfred and Entain, it seems some in the UK government are keen to prosecute illegal activity and usher in stronger regulations in the industry. It will be up to Sunak’s tenure as PM to determine whether a gambling minister stays on long enough to see the fight through.
