24Jul

Gambling Commission confirms destination of regulatory settlement money

24th July 2026 James Frudd 28

Following the Gambling Commission’s consultation in February on the destination of future regulatory settlements, the background to which is discussed in our previous blog, the Gambling Commission confirmed on 22 July 2026 that future regulatory settlements will be paid into the Government’s Consolidated Fund. The Consolidated Fund serves as the UK Government’s primary account for receiving the proceeds of taxation and other government receipts.

Considering the new statutory levy arrangements, this decision is intended to prevent the emergence of a dual funding structure and to avoid duplicating work already supported by the statutory levy.

As a result, Section 2.39 of the Gambling Commission’s Statement of principles for determining financial penalties has been amended to confirm that payments made in lieu of a financial penalty as part of a regulatory settlement will now be paid into the Consolidated Fund in the same way as financial penalties imposed under section 121 of the Gambling Act 2005.

Next steps

Please get in touch with us if you have any questions about regulatory settlements.

24Jul

DCMS Launches Consultation on Unlicensed Gambling Advertising and Sponsorship Ban

24th July 2026 James Frudd 32

On the 15 July 2026, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (“DCMS”) opened a consultation on proposals to ban sponsorship and advertising arrangements with gambling operators that are not licensed by the Gambling Commission. This follows the government’s initial announcement in February 2026. For further background, see our previous blog post here.

The consultation covers unlicensed gambling sponsorship and advertising in Great Britain across all sectors, not only sport. The government’s stated aim is to prevent unlicensed gambling sponsorship moving into other areas, such as cultural events or music venues, although it notes that it is not currently aware of sponsorship or advertising by unlicensed gambling operators at non-sporting events or venues in Great Britain.

Background and Current Position

The consultation follows concerns about overseas gambling brands using sponsorship and advertising arrangements with high-profile sports clubs, particularly Premier League and Championship football clubs, primarily to reach global audiences due to the global nature of the sport. DCMS considers that this exposure is also affecting consumers in Great Britain.

Under the current position, sponsorship or advertising arrangements with unlicensed gambling operators may continue provided that those operators’ services are not accessible to consumers in Great Britain. However, DCMS notes that although geo-blocking is used to restrict access by unlicensed operators, it can be bypassed using VPNs, enabling consumers in Great Britain to access those websites.

Some of these arrangements have also involved white label structures, where a Gambling Commission licensed operator offers gambling services under a third-party brand. The consultation highlights TGP Europe, which held a Gambling Commission licence until May 2025 and acted as a white label provider for a number of overseas brands. After the Gambling Commission identified compliance failings, TGP Europe surrendered its licence and left the British market. This left its overseas partners unlicensed in Great Britain and placed partner football clubs with sponsorship agreements at risk of advertising unlawful gambling.

The consultation notes that DCMS does not currently anticipate extending the proposed ban to gambling operators in white label agreements. However, it will work with the Gambling Commission to consider whether further action is needed to ensure that white label arrangements are properly monitored and enforced where necessary.

Reason for the Proposed Ban

DCMS’ rationale for the proposal is based on three main objectives:

Protecting consumers. The proposal is intended to protect consumers, particularly young people and vulnerable people, from unregulated gambling platforms that may not offer adequate player protections. The consultation states that sponsorship arrangements may increase awareness of unlicensed gambling operators and give consumers the impression that those operators are regulated in Great Britain, even where they are not.
Reinforcing integrity of the gambling market in Great Britain. DCMS intends to ensure that gambling advertising in Great Britain is limited to operators licensed by the Gambling Commission and subject to the Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice. Licensed operators also contribute to the statutory levy, which funds treatment, prevention and research into gambling-related harm, while unlicensed operators undermine the regulated market and negatively impact the businesses of licensed operators.
Reducing money-laundering vulnerabilities in sport. The consultation refers to the National risk assessment of money laundering and terrorist financing 2025 which identified that football clubs and agents were a cross-cutting money laundering risk and vulnerable to exploitation by organised crime groups. DCMS notes concerns that ownership structures, particularly in low-transparency jurisdictions, can conceal the true beneficiaries of football clubs and stakeholders, such as sponsorship arrangements, creating opportunities to launder criminal funds through mechanisms such as player transfers, ticketing, merchandise sales, sponsorship deals, and image rights. Concerns also exist about links between money laundering in football and unlicensed gambling operators who sponsor football.

What the Ban Would Cover

DCMS proposes to implement the ban through secondary legislation utilising section 328 of the Gambling Act 2005, which gives the Secretary of State power to make regulations controlling gambling advertising, subject to Parliamentary approval.

The proposed ban would make it a criminal offence to participate in or facilitate the advertising of gambling (including the advertising of gambling by sponsorship) by unlicensed gambling operators across all sectors of the economy and at all levels.

The ban across all sectors, venues and events in Great Britain would cover physical advertising and sponsorship assets, including:

kit and equipment sponsorship;
pitch side billboards;
tournament and event programmes;
venue infrastructure; and
naming of leagues, events and venues.

The ban would also extend to any team, club, or individual when competing or performing in Great Britain, regardless of the origin or usual location of those events or individuals.

Online Advertising

The proposed ban would focus on physical advertising and sponsorship, and online gambling advertising is not considered as part of the consultation, noting that primary legislation would be required to extend the ban to online gambling advertising. DCMS may consider this later if there is sufficient evidence to do so.

Proposed Timing

The consultation sets out two possible implementation options:

Option 1: the ban comes into effect on a fixed date in August 2027, before the start of the 2027/28 football season, with all sport sponsorship and advertising of unlicensed operators at sporting events ending before that date; or
Option 2: the ban applies to new unlicensed operator sponsorship and advertising contracts after the legislation is introduced, while existing contracts may continue until no later than the beginning of August 2028.

DCMS’ preferred option is a fixed start date in August 2027, ahead of the 2027/28 football season.

Potential Impact

DCMS recognises that the proposed ban may have a negative financial impact on clubs, sports, leagues, events and venues that currently have sponsorship or advertising arrangements with unlicensed gambling operators.

The consultation states that approximately 40% of Premier League clubs had sponsorship or advertising deals with unlicensed gambling operators for the 2025/26 season. The impact is likely to greater for lower-revenue clubs and sports that rely more heavily on sponsorship income.

Data provided to DCMS through the consultation will allow the government to estimate the potential financial impact when it considers how the ban should be implemented.

Consultation Response

The consultation includes separate questions for individuals and organisations.

The consultation runs for 8 weeks and closes at 11:59pm on 9 September 2026.

Responses can be submitted through DCMS’ online response form. Where the form cannot be accessed, responses may be sent by email to [email protected].

Please get in touch with us if you have any questions about the consultation on the proposed ban of sponsorship by unlicensed operators.

13Jul

Gambling Commission to implement Financial Risk Assessments in staged approach

13th July 2026 James Frudd 65

On the 7 July 2026, the Gambling Commission announced that Financial Risk Assessments will be introduced through a staged implementation process.

Staged Introduction Following Consultation and Pilot

Following extensive consultation, stakeholder engagement and piloting, the Gambling Commission has decided to introduce Financial Risk Assessments using a staged approach. The introduction of Financial Risk Assessments is one of the more controversial and debated outcomes of the 2023 White Paper. You can read more about the Financial Risk Assessment Pilot in our stage 1, stage 2 and stage 3 blogs.

The Gambling Commission has said that “Financial Risk Assessments will provide operators with a new, more effective and proportionate way of identifying customers in significant financial difficulty, while reducing reliance on the document checks that some operators currently use to seek to identify financial risk and that are unpopular with many customers”. The Gambling Commission further notes that some such customers are not currently being identified or supported, despite being two to four times more likely to have a debt management plan and two to five times more likely to have had a default in the previous 12 months than the wider population. If unidentified, they may continue receiving marketing and promotional offers despite being financially vulnerable.

It is expected that the majority of customers will never require an assessment due to the high spending nature of the relevant thresholds being introduced. However, where an assessment is required, the process is expected to be frictionless, document-free and carried out by Credit Reference Agencies with no impact on the customer’s credit score.

Stage One Implementation

The first stage of implementation will involve assessments being carried out by the largest operators where customers have a high spend of multiple thousands of pounds over a 24-hour period.

For most customers, Stage One will apply at £5,000 net deposit in a rolling 24-hour period. This has been described as an unusually high spend pattern, exceeded by less than 0.5 percent of customers.

The Gambling Commission will continue working with gambling businesses, Credit Reference Agencies and other stakeholders to refine the assessments, develop guidance and support proportionate implementation.

For the small proportion of customers who may need support, the Gambling Commission will support operators in taking appropriate and proportionate action. This may include reducing marketing to vulnerable consumers, helping customers set deposit limits, or taking further action where needed.

The Gambling Commission has also confirmed that, during the early stages of implementation, it will not take enforcement action for a failure to act following a Financial Risk Assessment. However, operators of course remain subject to all other existing licence requirements.

The timetable for Stage One will be confirmed after engagement with industry and other stakeholders through implementation groups being established over the summer.

Financial Risk Assessment Thresholds

Stage 1 implementation

Consumers aged 25 and over: exceeds £5,000 net deposit in a rolling 24-hour period.
High-risk groups, such as consumers under 25: exceeds £2,500 net deposit in a rolling 24-hour period.

Interim stages of implementation

To be set following further engagement with implementation groups and stakeholders.

Final stage of implementation

Consumers aged 25 and over: exceeds £1,000 net deposit in a rolling 24-hour period or exceeds £3,000 net deposit in a rolling 90-day period.
High-risk groups, such as consumers under 25: exceeds £750 net deposit in a rolling 24-hour period or exceeds £2,000 net deposit in a rolling 90-day period.

Comments from the Gambling Commission and Government

Sarah Gardner, Acting Chief Executive of the Gambling Commission commented:

“We are confident that our approach, using high-quality data, will enable support for high-spending customers in financial difficulties, while reducing friction for customers who are not in financial difficulties by removing the need for unnecessary and unpopular document checks to understand financial risk.”

“We have listened to feedback throughout the pilot process which has led to us deciding to carefully proceed. We will work with key partners to make sure that they are implemented in the most effective way for consumers and operators.”

Gambling Minister Baroness Twycross also welcomed the decision to implement Financial Risk Assessments by commenting:

“Attention must now turn to successful implementation, so that financial risk assessments work for consumers, gambling operators and the wider ecosystem.”

“The right balance must be struck so that assessments protect those in financial difficulties from the risk of gambling-related harm but do not create unnecessary burdens for the industry or consumers.”

Summary

Please get in touch with us if you have any questions about the first stage of the Financial Risk Assessments implementation.

08Jul

Gambling Commission seeking proposals from industry to reduce regulatory burdens

8th July 2026 James Frudd 77

On 26 June 2026, the Gambling Commission announced that it is seeking proposals from the gambling industry on ways to reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens.

The Gambling Commission has made clear that any reduction in burden must still maintain strong consumer protections and uphold the licensing objectives under the Gambling Act 2005.

Purpose of the Initiative

The initiative forms part of the Gambling Commission’s 2026/27 Business Plan. It invites industry stakeholders to suggest how regulatory requirements, guidance and operational processes could be streamlined or improved.

The aim is to identify practical changes that make regulation more effective and proportionate, without weakening consumer safeguards.

Areas Proposals May Cover

Industry proposals may relate to:

the Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice;
technical standards;
reporting processes; or
wider interactions across the regulatory framework.

The Gambling Commission also reiterates that it remains committed to ensuring compliance costs are proportionate to the risks faced by consumers and at the same time, that it continues to focus on the licensing objectives of the Gambling Act 2005, namely:

keeping crime out of gambling;
ensuring gambling is conducted fairly and openly; and
protecting children and vulnerable people from harm.

How and When to Submit Proposals

Stakeholders are asked to submit proposals using an online form before the end of September 2026.

Comment from the Commission

Tim Miller, Executive Director for Research and Policy at the Gambling Commission commented:

“We want to hear from the industry about where regulation can be improved or streamlined without compromising the protections that consumers rightly expect.”

“This is an opportunity to identify tangible changes that support innovation while ensuring regulation remains effective, proportionate and focused on keeping gambling fair and safe.”

Please get in touch with us if you have any questions about the industry proposals.