DCMS to evaluate consumer impact of Gambling Act Review

The UK government's Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is launching an evaluation plan to assess the impact of white paper reform measures. The in-depth evaluation of the Gambling Act Review and the measures that have already come into effect will explore whether reform is being delivered effectively or causing any unintended consequences.

Published last week, the plan has been developed in partnership between the DCMS and the Gambling Commission, with the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) also supporting the project.

The Gambling Act Review white paper was published in April 2023 after a series of delays. The plan includes proposals to update the Gambling Act, which was published in 2005, ahead of the explosion of online gambling.

Certain measures have already been implemented on the back of the review and last week, the government also announced it will be pushing ahead with plans for a new statutory levy on gambling profits. New stake limits on online slots have also been confirmed.

The DCMS evaluation focuses on the impact of specific policy measures implemented under the Gambling Act Review. This includes whether measures are being delivered effectively, achieving intended outcomes, and any unintended consequences. The department will use data provided by both consumers and the sector itself.

A variety of research methods are being used to gather opinions and feedback, including consumer and operator surveys, in-depth interviews, focus groups, and tracking and monitoring. The project also includes a ‘lived experience panel’, bringing together people with lived experience of gambling and gambling harm.

According to the DCMS, the evaluation report will be released in 2026, with work to begin in the coming months. “The impacts and outcomes of specific proposals will be evaluated individually, as well as in a package to understand the collective impact of policy measures that have been implemented so far and can be evaluated within the lifetime of this evaluation,” the DCMS said.

Bryony Sheldon, Director of Policy for the Gambling Commission, highlighted the importance of collaboration to ensure the evaluation’s success in a blog update. This will also include an advisory group independently administered by NatCen, which will feature practitioners, researchers, academics, and evaluators.

“Evaluation requires involvement and cooperation from a wide variety of stakeholders,” she said. “In taking forward work on the Gambling Act Review, we have engaged extensively and will continue to do so, both informally and through formal consultation, which has included questions about evaluation.