The new Labour government has appointed its first Gambling Minister to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
Baroness Fiona Twycross will take on the role that became something of a poisoned chalice during the previous Conservative government, with as many as six different individuals fulfilling the role in the space of just three years between 2020 and 2023 amid party upheaval and reshuffles.
One of her first duties will be to determine which of the elements of the Conservatives’ gambling industry white paper she wants to implement, while also monitoring the effectiveness – or otherwise – of the UK Gambling Commission.
Keeping It Clean
Unlike many of her colleagues in the Houses of Parliament, Twycross has not made declarations of personal interest in the gambling sector.
That’s a refreshing change in an era in which numerous MPs have been caught out accepting payments or perks in return for lobbying the government for more liberalised legislation in the sector.
Baroness Twycross also doesn’t have a lengthy voting record on issues relating to the industry within Parliament, and so it’s hard to get an accurate read on whether she will be an ally or a thorn in the side of the gambling sector during her tenure.
Meet the DCMS ministerial team supporting Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport @lisanandy
Minister for Creative Industries, Arts, and Tourism @RhonddaBryant
Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth @Steph_Peacock
Minister for Gambling @fionatwycross… pic.twitter.com/DHp6XEnxJD— Department for Culture, Media and Sport (@DCMS) July 26, 2024
She is perhaps best known as the former deputy mayor of London, while fronting numerous charitable initiatives into poverty and wages in the capital.
Twycross will take on the role instead of Stephanie Peacock, who was initially assumed to have been handed the position after being appointed as the minister for sport, media, gambling and civil society. However, the gambling part of the job has now been separated and given its own individual minister.
In their election manifesto, Labour vowed to reduce gambling-related harm through ‘reform(ing) gambling regulation, strengthening protections’. That will likely include the implementation of some of the recommendations in the previous government’s white paper, which include slot game stake limits, affordability checks and the introduction of a gambling levy, to be used to fund problem gambling care.
Another item in the white paper was the proposed introduction of a gambling ombudsman. And if Twycross chooses to continue in that spirit, it could be bad news for the UK Gambling Commission….
Quick, Look Busy
One of the regulator’s duties is to act as a ‘middle man’ in the complaints of punters, who have contacted the Commission after a betting site has – in their opinion – acted in bad faith, typically by settling a bet as a loss or refusing to pay out.
The Commission refers punters to use an alternative dispute resolution provider should they be unable to amicably resolve their issues with the bookmaker or casino in question.
But the introduction of a gambling ombudsman, who would presumably take on direct responsibility for upholding such standards in the industry, would erode the power and the worthiness of the regulator – whose role has already been questioned by many in the sector.
In a bid to appear busy, as Baroness Twycross settles into her role as minister, the Gambling Commission has launched a new survey, designed to get a closer insight into the gambling behaviours and attitudes of punters on UK soil.
The Gambling Survey for Great Britain had already been rolled out for a guinea pig run in 2023, revealing that online betting has overtaken in-person punting – however, the tables are turned (18% of respondents in person, 15% online) when purchasing lottery tickets was removed from the list of activities.
Playing the National Lottery remains as Britain’s favourite gambling pursuit, which perhaps explains why many reported that the main reason they gambled was in a bid to ‘win big’. Happily, around 70% of respondents also revealed that they bet on sports, played casino games or played the lottery because they consider it to be ‘fun’.
Troublingly, the survey also revealed the extent of problem gambling behaviours – particularly amongst those that play online slots. Using a Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), the analysis of the survey results found that slot gamers are around six times more likely to have a PGSI score of eight or more – ten being the most severe score.
The results from the 2024 edition of the survey will be published next summer.