The United Kingdom’s gambling industry is once again under the political spotlight as a determined group of Labour backbench Members of Parliament push for a comprehensive overhaul of gambling legislation. Their calls for reform are intensifying scrutiny on the Labour leadership, particularly over its historic financial ties to the betting sector.
The party has long-standing associations with the gambling industry, having received political donations exceeding £400,000 in the four years leading up to the 2024 general election. High-profile figures, including party leader Keir Starmer and Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves, have reportedly accepted donations from major betting firms such as Bet365. Additionally, several senior Labour officials maintain close relationships with Michael Dugher, the former Member of Parliament who now chairs a leading industry lobbying group.
Former Deputy Labour Leader Tom Watson’s transition into an advisory role for Flutter Entertainment, the parent company of brands including Paddy Power, Betfair, and SkyBet, has only fueled perceptions of cosy ties between the party and the gambling sector.
However, the current push for reform is being driven by newly elected Members of Parliament who have no affiliations with the industry. Strengthened by their successful challenge to Labour’s welfare reform proposals earlier this year, these backbenchers are seizing the opportunity to demand robust action on gambling regulation.
New Calls for a Stronger Approach
At the heart of this movement is the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Gambling Harm, which includes Labour Members of Parliament Beccy Cooper, Sarah Coombes, Alex Ballinger, and Andrew Pakes, alongside Conservative veteran Iain Duncan Smith as chair. The group has been vocal about the need for a completely new Gambling Act to replace the 2005 legislation introduced under Tony Blair’s government.
Their proposals advocate for stricter advertising controls, a potential shift of gambling policy oversight from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to the Department of Health, and enhanced powers for local councils to curb the spread of gambling venues such as twenty-four-hour slot machine establishments.
Beccy Cooper has emphasised the necessity of future-proofing any new legislation, likening it to regulatory approaches previously taken with the tobacco industry. She has called for bans on the most harmful gambling products, the elimination of advertising targeted at minors, and the cessation of sports marketing that downplays the addictive nature of gambling.
Alex Ballinger, a former Royal Marine, has highlighted the issue of gambling addiction among ex-servicemen and women, particularly focusing on the influence of pervasive gambling advertising. He supports the idea of lobbying ministers collectively and is open to discussions about moving gambling regulation under the jurisdiction of the health department.
The Fabian Society, a prominent Labour-affiliated think tank, has also entered the debate, publishing recommendations for banning some of the most addictive gambling products in circulation.
Critics Want More
Despite the growing pressure, the government maintains that it is committed to tackling gambling-related harm. A spokesperson for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport pointed to recent measures, including a new stake limit for online slot games and a £100 million annual statutory levy dedicated to gambling research and treatment.
However, campaigners and reform-minded Members of Parliament argue that these actions do not go far enough. While ministers have upheld some of the previous administration’s policies, they have refrained from introducing tighter advertising restrictions or revising the current liberal licensing laws.
