Morning, Tuesday, 1st December 2026
Online
This conference will examine the way forward for gambling policy and regulation in the UK.
With further measures arising from the Gambling Act Review being implemented, Financial Risk Assessments moving towards staged introduction, and significant changes to gambling duties taking effect, attendees will consider the practical and economic impact of reform across the sector.
Areas for discussion include implications for operators, investment, employment, products and consumer behaviour, looking at priorities for consumer protection and market integrity, as well as action against illegal gambling, and the funding and delivery of work to prevent and address gambling-related harm.
Financial Risk Assessments & consumer safeguards
The conference will bring policymakers and stakeholders together to assess preparations for the staged introduction of Financial Risk Assessments in Great Britain, following completion of the Gambling Commission’s pilot and evaluation work. Delegates will consider the proposed thresholds and phased approach, the use of credit reference agency data, and practical questions relating to accuracy, data-sharing, privacy and operational oversight.
Discussion will also examine implications for consumers, operators and sectors dependent on betting activity, including horseracing, alongside approaches to minimising unnecessary friction and responding where further information or direct customer engagement is required.
Duty reform & implications for the sector
Attendees will examine the impact of changes announced in the 2025 Autumn Budget, including the increase in Remote Gaming Duty from 21% to 40% and abolition of Bingo Duty from April 2026, together with the introduction of a 25% remote betting rate from April 2027.
Discussion will consider the combined effect of duty reform, the statutory levy and wider regulatory costs on different parts of the market, including implications for business models, investment, employment, retail provision, product development and consumer behaviour. The relationship between duty reform, the competitiveness of the regulated sector and the risk of displacement towards unlicensed operators will also be assessed.
Illegal gambling, enforcement & market integrity
The agenda will bring out latest thinking on approaches to tackling the illegal gambling market, including priorities for the Illegal Gambling Taskforce and deployment of the additional £26m allocated to the Gambling Commission over three years.
Delegates will assess the use of new powers to disrupt access to illegal websites, alongside payment and advertising disruption, intelligence-sharing and co-ordinated action across government, regulators, technology companies, financial services and law enforcement. Further discussion is expected on international cooperation, offshore and crypto-enabled operators, affiliate marketing, and the evidence needed to assess the scale and changing character of illegal gambling across online and land-based markets.
Funding, prevention & treatment
The conference will also consider early implementation of the statutory levy and the developing arrangements for funding research, prevention and treatment.
Attendees will examine priorities for allocation, commissioning, accountability and evaluation, as well as the relationship between national programmes, NHS services, local provision and the voluntary sector. Areas for discussion include access to support, workforce and service capacity, early intervention and identification of gambling-related harm, and approaches to reaching groups and communities at greater risk.
Advertising, technology & consumer protection
Further sessions will examine gambling advertising and marketing, including sponsorship, affiliate activity, streaming and influencer-led content, and their implications for consumer protection, public confidence and the regulated sector.
Delegates will also consider the relationship between gambling and gaming, the effectiveness of current arrangements for loot boxes and other gambling-like features, and the evidence and options for future regulation. Wider issues will include age and identity verification, the use of customer data, e-sports wagering, new payment models and the safeguards needed as products, platforms and patterns of participation continue to develop.
Overview of areas for discussion
- policy and implementation:
- early experience of Gambling Act Review reforms - implementation of deposit-limit and social-responsibility requirements - evidence and priorities for further change
- Financial Risk Assessments:
- staged introduction, thresholds and credit reference agency data - privacy, accuracy and customer engagement - implications for operators, consumers and horseracing
- duty reform and sector impacts:
- Remote Gaming Duty, remote betting duty and abolition of Bingo Duty - interaction with the statutory levy
- effects on investment, employment, products, retail provision and the regulated market
- illegal gambling and enforcement:
- priorities for the Illegal Gambling Taskforce - use of additional funding and new disruption powers
- payment, advertising and website blocking - cross-agency and international cooperation
- prevention, treatment and funding:
- implementation and allocation of the statutory levy - commissioning, accountability and evaluation
- NHS, local and voluntary-sector provision - access, workforce and early intervention
- advertising, technology and consumer safeguards:
- marketing, sponsorship, affiliates and influencer content - gambling-like features in gaming
- age and identity verification - emerging products, platforms and payment models
