Gambling Review Left Without Minister
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has stated that at present no minister has been assigned to oversee the ongoing Gambling Review. The statement follows media claims that the brief had been taken over by MP Stuart Andrew. Ministers are keen to see the white paper published before Parliament breaks up for its Easter recess at the end of March.
Ministers are keen to publish the Gambling Review white paper before local election campaigning begins on May 4th, if not sooner. ©Naveen Annam/Pexels
Cabinet Reshuffle
The DCMS has confirmed that it has not yet selected a minister to oversee the Gambling Review. It issued the statement after the Racing Post claimed last week that Sports Minister, MP Stuart Andrew would take the reins from Paul Scully. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the creation of four new departments as part of his latest cabinet shake-up.
The situation could leave the future of the long-awaited Gambling Review white paper in jeopardy. The DCMS has maintained that the report will be published in the coming weeks, although it is yet to give a definitive date. Media outlets have reported that the government is keen to release the white paper before Parliament’s Easter recess on March 30th.
The clock is ticking for ministers, who are likely to want to conclude the review before campaigning for local elections begins on May 4th. After this point, the publication would breach purdah rules. During the pre-election period, or purdah, policy announcements that could have an impact on the election campaign cannot be made.
The revelation that the government has not appointed a minister to oversee the publication of the white paper could spark concerns over further delays. The review has already been led by five gambling ministers, the latest being MP for Sutton and Cheam Paul Scully.
Paul Scully was appointed to the role at the end of October 2022, when he was named Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Tech and the Digital Economy. Previous ministers to have led the review include Nigel Huddleston, John Whittingdale, Chris Philp, and Damian Collins.
Scully has now been moved to the new Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, which is taking over the DCMS’s digital brief. He will act as the department’s Parliamentary Under Secretary of State. He is joined by MP Michelle Donelan, who will lead the department. Donelan’s previous role as leader of the DCMS has been taken over by MP Lucy Frazer.
DCMS Denies Claims
The Racing Post has reported that new Culture Secretary Frazer has taken a much stronger interest in the gambling review than her predecessor. It said that she had quickly taken a grasp of the issues under discussion. It also noted that the ‘write-round’ process, which serves to inform other government departments of policy and allow for feedback, has yet to begin.
Last week the Racing Post published an exclusive in which it claimed that Sports minister Stuart Andrew was set to take on the gambling brief. It stated that the MP for Pudsey, Horsforth and Aireborough in West Yorkshire was to become the sixth minister in charge of the white paper since its launch in December 2020.
The article went on to describe Andrew as having not been vocal on the subject of gambling or horseracing. His voting record shows that he has consistently voted against greater regulation of gambling. In 2014, he did vote to increase stake limits for gambling terminals. The minister has previously faced criticism after accepting £1,961 in hospitality from Irish bookmaker Paddy Power.
In 2021, Andrew was treated to a European Championships ticket to watch England’s 2-0 defeat against Germany at Wembley. Other MPs have accepted larger hospitality sums, in particular MP Philip Davies. He declared £49,000 in earnings from GVC Holdings, now operating as Entain. He also accepted thousands of pounds worth of gifts and donations from Entain, Flutter Entertainment, Gamesys and the BGC.
The tabloid reporter did concede that Andrew’s appointment as gambling minister had yet to be officially confirmed by the DCMS, but expressed hope that the rumored appointment would be able to help get the publication of the white paper back on track. The DCMS has denied the Racing Post’s claim that Stuart Andrew will lead the gambling brief.
New Football Regulator
The confusion over who will lead the Gambling Review follows the publication last week of another highly-anticipated white paper. The government announced plans to launch an independent regulator to protect the long-term future of English football, following recommendations made by a fan-led review last year.
The new football watchdog will be tasked with reforming financial practices in the sport, following a number of high-profile crises. Clubs will soon have to complete a rigorous application process before being allowed to compete, showing robust business models and corporate governance. Since the launch of the Premier League in 1992, 64 clubs have gone into administration.
The leagues have been troubled by financial problems in recent years, with some clubs failing to meet their payrolls. A Football Club Corporate Governance Code will be introduced to ensure good financial practices. The visa system for English football will also be reviewed, with a view to balance support for young domestic players with attracting global talent.
The regulator will also seek to prevent clubs from joining breakaway leagues that fail to meet its criteria. In 2021, six Premier League teams announced plans to join a European Super league. After an outcry from fans, sports organizations and former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, those plans were abandoned.
Fans will benefit from the transformations to football’s governance, gaining a greater say in how their beloved clubs are run. Safeguards will be put in place to protect the heritage of clubs, including fans in the consultation process before shirt colors, emblems and club names can be changed.
Now that the white paper on English football has been published, it is hoped that the government will focus on completing the Gambling Review. Industry leaders have called for clarity on many aspects of the reforms proposed, from affordability checks to football shirt sponsorships.
