Vicky Foxcroft Faces Fresh Questions Over the Future of UK Gambling Reform

Vicky Foxcroft is about to get her first major public platform as Britain’s gambling minister, and the timing could hardly be more significant.

She is due to speak at a Labour Party Conference fringe event in Liverpool on September 28 titled “What Next for Gambling Reform: Time for a New Act?”, where the discussion will cover regulation, gambling harm, advertising, online products and industry accountability. Fresh polling will also be used to explore public attitudes towards the next stage of reform.

The event comes after the House of Lords called for a comprehensive gambling advertising ban, arguing that existing rules have failed to keep pace with digital promotion and the scale of gambling harm. That puts particular attention on what Foxcroft says next.

A New Minister Arrives at a Turning Point

Foxcroft took over the gambling brief in July after being appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. She previously backed notable gambling reforms, including changes to high-street licensing and measures aimed at reducing gambling harm.

Her arrival has also coincided with a notable change in the government’s approach to the Gambling Act 2005. Ministers have announced plans to scrap the statutory “aim to permit” principle, giving councils greater powers over new betting shops and certain other gambling premises.

Foxcroft has so far stressed that future decisions should be based on impartial, accurate and up-to-date evidence. Gambling advertising, she has said, remains under regular review, while the government continues to assess the impact of reforms already introduced.

Pressure Is Building Around Advertising and a New Act

The question of primary legislation is becoming harder to avoid. Supporters of a new Gambling Act argue that the 2005 framework was designed for a very different gambling market and needs to reflect today’s digital environment.

The recent Lords report adds another major issue to that discussion by calling for a comprehensive advertising ban. The committee said a ban would be the most effective policy option for reducing gambling harm, while rejecting arguments that tighter restrictions on licensed operators would necessarily push customers into the illegal market.

Some voices from the gambling sector and betting community have questioned the balance of the Labour conference panel, pointing out that the discussion does not include direct representation from operators or punters. Others involved in the event argue that fresh public polling can provide a broader picture of what consumers think about the direction of reform.

The Minister Now Has a Bigger Question to Answer

The session could therefore reveal whether the government sees the current reform programme as sufficient or whether ministers are prepared to revisit the legislation itself.

Foxcroft is entering the role after several major changes already took effect, including the statutory gambling levy, stronger advertising rules and new consumer protection measures. Her appearance in Liverpool may not decide the future of UK gambling regulation, but it should provide one of the clearest early indications yet of how the new minister views the next chapter.