Independent UK commission opens review of the Gambling Act 2005
GPC will examine taxation, online gambling and prediction markets through to 2028
Key Takeaways
- The Gambling Policy Commission launched its review of the Gambling Act 2005 on 10 November 2026 and expects a final report in 2028.
- The inquiry will examine online gambling, taxation, consumer protection, cryptocurrencies and prediction markets.
- The sector contributed £5,000 million to UK GVA in 2024 and HM Revenue & Customs collected £3,900 million in gambling duties in 2025/26.
- The GPC will accept evidence until 12 February 2027 and will continue work through 2027 before publishing conclusions in 2028.
The Gambling Policy Commission (GPC) launched a review of the Gambling Act 2005 on 10 November 2026 and will assess whether the UK needs a new gambling law. The independent commission will examine online gambling, taxation, consumer protection and newer products such as prediction markets, and expects to publish a final report in 2028.
Areas the review will cover
The inquiry will address several specific areas: unlicensed gambling, taxation of gambling activity, player protection, cryptocurrencies and prediction markets. The GPC’s remit includes reviewing whether conventional remote gambling licences remain appropriate and assessing alternatives such as restricted licences or public provision.
The commission will also examine reforms introduced after the 2023 Gambling White Paper and whether player protection measures have met their objectives. The operation of the statutory levy that funds research, prevention and treatment will receive additional analysis.
Taxation, economic contribution and unauthorised operators
The gambling industry contributed £5.000 millones to UK gross value added in 2024 and supported around 75.000 empleos in 2025. HM Revenue & Customs collected £3.900 millones in gambling duties in the 2025/26 fiscal year.
The Government has proposed increasing the Machine Games Duty from 5% to 25%, and the GPC will investigate how taxation affects licensed operators, consumers and the wider economy. The commission also intends to understand why some players choose unlicensed sites and whether current enforcement tools are effective.
A recent survey by the Gambling Commission found that 2.5% of adults who had played online in the previous year had visited an unlicensed gambling site in the four weeks before the survey. Ismail Vali, chair of Gambling Compliance International, questioned whether player participation reflects the true financial size of the offshore market:
"The percentage of people reporting illegal gambling is not the percentage of gambling revenue captured by crime," Vali said. "A relatively small audience, particularly concentrated in high-value or repeat behaviour, can generate substantial criminal revenues."
The GPC will study whether payment providers, search engines, app stores and social media platforms can do more to restrict unlicensed gambling.
Technology, new products and sporting rights
The review will include technologies that were not relevant when the 2005 legislation was passed: prediction markets, artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency betting and digital products with gambling-like features. Will Hutton, chair of the Academy of Social Sciences, highlighted prediction markets as a salient case:
"Everything from consumer protection to appropriate tax policy needs urgent review," Hutton said.
The commission will question whether traditional online licences cover all remote products and will explore regulatory alternatives. It will also assess whether consumers should have additional civil remedies for gambling-related harms.
The GPC will consider whether UK sporting organisations merit economic rights over bets on their events and whether a Sports Betting Levy should replace part of the General Betting Duty; it will also consider better coordination across government departments.
Commission membership, timetable and public participation
The GPC is chaired by Professor Jagjit Chadha of the University of Cambridge; the chief economist is Professor James Reade of the University of Reading. The commission is independent of the UK Gambling Commission, which continues to regulate licensed gambling under the existing legislation.
Researchers, consumers, gambling firms, sports bodies and policymakers may submit evidence until 12 February 2027. The GPC will continue its inquiry during 2027 and publish its conclusions in 2028.
For details on licensing and online regulation, interested parties can consult the [regulation](/regulation) section of this site; questions about online casinos and sports betting appear in [casino](/casino) and [sports](/sports) as appropriate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is leading the review and when will results be published?
The review is led by the Gambling Policy Commission, chaired by Professor Jagjit Chadha; the commission will publish its final report in 2028 and is accepting evidence until 12 February 2027.
What tax issues will the commission examine?
The GPC will examine how taxes affect licensed operators, consumers and the wider economy, including a government proposal to raise the Machine Games Duty from 5% to 25%, and will analyse the economic impact of gambling taxation.
How will the GPC address unlicensed gambling?
The commission will investigate why players use unlicensed sites, assess the effectiveness of current enforcement tools and study whether payment providers, search engines, app stores and social platforms can do more to restrict unlicensed gambling.
Does the review include new technologies and products?
Yes. The GPC will review prediction markets, artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency betting and digital products with gambling-like features and consider whether current licences and tax policies are fit for these products.
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About the author
Miguel Sandoval
Regulatory Affairs Correspondent
Miguel Sandoval tracks gambling legislation, licensing, and regulator enforcement — from Spain's DGOJ and the Latin American authorities to the UKGC, the MGA, and the state-by-state map in North America. The reports answer three questions precisely — what changed, where, and who it affects — with jurisdictions, dates, and penalties cited exactly as published. Operators and compliance officers read Miguel Sandoval to know which rulebook moved before their next meeting.
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