Betting and Gaming Council welcomes Labour's pledge to "strengthen protections" on gambling regulation

The UK's Betting and Gaming Council has welcomed the Labour's general election manifesto, in which the political party has pledged to continue working with the gambling industry to drive up standards on responsible betting and gaming.

The UK's next general election takes place on July 4, which has prompted parties to set out their policy manifestos over the last few days. Labour launched its own on Thursday, in which it detailed its plans should Keir Starmer be elected as the new UK Prime Minister.

Labour's pledge comes as the UK's regulated gambling sector undergoes the biggest regulatory reforms in years, following the publication in 2023 of the White Paper. The BGC said that the measures are supported by both the council and Labour, including a statutory levy to tackle problem gambling, an Ombudsman to improve consumer redress, frictionless financial risk checks online, new stake limits for online slots, a sports sponsorship code, and modernization proposals for the land-based sector.

Betting and Gaming Council CEO and Acting Chair Michael Dugher said: “On behalf of our members, the 110,000 people whose jobs rely on the regulated betting and gaming industry, and the 22.5 million people who enjoy a bet each month, we welcome Labour’s general election manifesto and its commitment to continue working with the industry to further drive up standards.

“BGC members are currently undergoing the biggest regulatory changes in a generation following the publication of the White Paper, which Labour supported, and much of this work will be ongoing after the general election. This is also backed up by the industry’s significant efforts to continue to drive world-class standards and protections for the vulnerable, which has transformed the sector in recent years and stands in marked contrast to the dangers posed by the unregulated black market."

Dugher further stated that the BGC and its members remain committed to working with the next government to continue to implement change as part of the regulatory changes outlined in the White Paper, "ensuring those measures get the balance right."

“BGC has long treated Labour as not merely the official opposition in parliament, but as a government in waiting. We have worked closely with shadow ministers in recent years and we strongly welcome their commitment in the manifesto to work with the regulated industry," the trade group's CEO added.

"Whatever happens at the polls, our work to drive up standards carries on and we look forward to partnering with the next government in this vitally important work," Dugher concluded.