Morning, Thursday, 24th April 2025
Online
This conference focuses on the future for the UK gambling sector.
Regulation, policy and sector sustainability
It will be an opportunity for stakeholders and policymakers to examine key issues for sector regulation and for customers and interest groups, with discussion on developments in UK gambling policy and industry trends, and the way forward for responsible sustainability of the sector, including next steps for advertising, sponsorship, and tackling the gambling black market.
Statutory levy
Delegates will consider both immediate and longer-term priorities in the context of statutory levy implementation, as the sector prepares for first payments in October 2025. We expect discussion on the levy’s governance, including issues of transparency and collaboration between government departments and the gambling regulator - through the Levy Programme Board and Advisory Group.
Resources, research and preventing harm
Delegates will also assess priorities for funding distribution and strategic approaches to research, prevention, and care, as well as implications for organisations in accessing financial support. Implementation of levy rate alignment with gambling harm will also be considered, as well as putting in place an evidence-based process to adequately monitor the impact of gambling, and what constitutes a comprehensive approach to harm prevention.
Consumer protection
Sessions will explore latest thinking on how the economic viability of the gambling industry and opportunities for growth can best be balanced with the need for robust consumer protection measures.
Priorities for evaluating the impact of policy reform will also be discussed, including the role of the Lived Experience Advisory Panel and Evaluation Advisory Group in guiding research. Areas for discussion include early indications of the impact of newly introduced stake limits, learnings from phase one of the ongoing financial risk assessments pilot, and implications of increased regulation on operational costs and consumer behaviour.
Innovation, customer service and tackling the black market
The agenda also looks at developments and opportunities for innovation and technology in addressing negative impacts of gambling, including the way forward for data analytics and responsible design principles, as well as the potential for new approaches in research and care funded by the statutory levy.
Innovation in customer services will also be considered, including the way forward for use of AI and other technologies in customer targeting, age verification, and addressing emerging concerns, including in the online space. Delegates will also assess strategies for tackling the gambling black market and unlicensed operators, including the role payment services providers might play in blocking payments, options for restricting advertising, and priorities for targeted criminal enforcement.
Advertising and sponsorship
Further sessions will examine the future of gambling advertising and sponsorship, and possible knock-on impacts of the Premier League banning front-of-shirt gambling sponsors from the end of the 2025/26 season. Attendees will consider strategic approaches for the gambling sector, including options for cross-industry collaboration on frameworks and assurances on advertising and sponsorship that is appropriate, responsible and does not exacerbate harm.
There will also be discussion on options for tackling the increasing prevalence of white label operators using football to advertise globally, the impact of gambling promotion on young people, and options for increasing customer choice in direct marketing.
Overall areas for discussion include:
- statutory levy: implementation of 2023 white paper reforms - establishing effective governance structures - alignment of levy with evidence-based harm data
- funding: priorities for UKRI, NHS England, and the prevention commissioner for funding distribution - transparent allocation of funds
- policy reform: assessing implications of stake limit introductions - impact on consumer behaviour - mitigating risks for younger adults - evaluating short and long-term regulatory outcomes - operator costs
- game design: next step for implementation of safer options - slower play features - adapting online slots to reduce harm - removing auto play functions - clarifying responsibilities for operators
- financial checks: addressing privacy and data concerns - provision of customer information - avoiding unnecessary friction for low-risk gamblers - initial findings from the financial risk assessment pilot
- advertising and sponsorship: addressing concerns around youth exposure - tackling prevalence of white label operators - potential for industry-wide safeguards - international issues
- technology and data analytics: harnessing AI for early harm detection - promoting responsible design principles - scaling solutions such as GamProtect - next-gen regulatory frameworks
- regulation and sector sustainability: proportional rules for smaller operators - industry competitiveness - assessing social and economic benefits - tackling the gambling black market
- enforcement: the Gambling Commission’s approach - collaboration - tackling unlicensed operators - inter-operator cooperation - clarifying roles for suppliers, ISPs, and payment providers
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates.
