Labour MPs push for wholesale reform of UK gambling laws to address harm

The Labour leadership is facing mounting pressure from backbench MPs demanding extensive reforms to Britain’s gambling regulations. A significant and growing faction of Labour MPs is urging the drafting of a new Gambling Act to replace the legislation introduced under Tony Blair’s government in 2005. Concerns are mounting over the current approach, with figures revealing the gambling industry took a record £11.5 billion from UK punters last year.

Backbenchers, including prominent members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Gambling Harm, argue that stronger measures are needed to tackle the issue of addiction, which affects over a million people in the UK. Proposals include banning the most harmful gambling products, restricting advertising aimed at children, and curbing sports sponsorships, which are seen as minimising the risks associated with gambling.

The fall-out from recent party decisions, including a backbench rebellion on welfare reform, has strengthened MPs’ voices on the matter. Discussions are also underway regarding transferring responsibility for gambling policy from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to the Department of Health. This shift would reframe gambling as a public health issue rather than merely a leisure industry.

Beccy Cooper, Alex Ballinger and Andrew Pakes are among those leading the call for change. Ballinger, a former Royal Marine, has emphasised the impact of gambling addiction on veterans and called for stricter controls on the promotion of betting products. Cooper highlighted the need to future-proof new legislation, comparing this approach to the regulatory action previously taken against the tobacco industry.

Industry ties to the Labour Party, including over £400,000 in donations from betting firms since 2020, have raised concerns among reform advocates. Party veterans such as Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, have also supported calls for local councils to have greater power to block the spread of 24-hour slot machine venues. The Fabian Society, a prominent think tank, has provided further reinforcement by publishing research advocating for bans on certain addictive gambling products.

While some steps have been taken by the government, including a cap on online slot machine stakes and a £100 million annual statutory levy on betting firms, critics believe these measures do not go far enough. Labour backbenchers are determined to push the government’s agenda toward stronger protections for vulnerable individuals affected by gambling harm. This growing movement signals a potential turning point in how the UK addresses the social consequences of this lucrative yet contentious industry.