The UK has a new gambling minister, Chris Philip, who was appointed after the recent cabinet shake-up.
Philip, who was named last week as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), has been confirmed as the UK’s gambling minister.
Philip’s appointment was confirmed after he made remarks about the independent report on the regulation of BetIndex in his new position. The report found that the Gambling Commission was slow to act in regulating the failed operator Football Index and had been unaware for over three years that the operator was offering a product that may not have been authorized.
A DCMS representative confirmed that Philip will take over from John Whittingdale, who was dismissed last week, in overseeing the UK’s gambling sector. The representative stated that Philip’s full title and responsibilities are still being finalized, but they confirmed that he will be in charge of overseeing gambling work, including the Gambling Act review.
As a backbench MP, Philip had advocated for stricter regulation of fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) before the decision to lower the maximum stake on FOBTs was made in 2018.
This stands in sharp contrast to Whittingdale, who chaired a panel that suggested widening the reach of machines before being appointed to oversee gaming.
Duggan, the head of the UK Gaming Commission, voiced his approval of Philip and emphasized the work and advancements made by the gaming industry.
“On behalf of the UK Gambling Commission’s 119,000 employees, I greet Chris Philip as the new Minister for Gambling,” Duggan stated. “He arrives at this position with a strong reputation as a skilled and capable minister.”
“We have made substantial progress towards the objectives of the Gambling Review White Paper, and we believe the government will not want to lose this momentum.”
“Members of the UK Gambling Commission generate £4.5 billion in taxes for our public services and contribute £7.7 billion in added value to the economy, so it is crucial that the government continues to adopt an evidence-based approach to the review.”
“I anticipate collaborating with Chris in the coming months as the UK Gambling Commission continues to drive significant changes and higher standards in safer gambling, ensuring we achieve a balance between protecting vulnerable individuals and guaranteeing the freedom of millions to enjoy gambling safely and responsibly.”
Philip has represented Croydon South in Parliament since 2015, having previously held junior roles in the Home Office and Ministry of Justice.
This seasoned politician, at the age of 45, held the position of Vice Chair of Conservative Party Policy for a period spanning from 2018 to 2019. He also served as the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the current Health Secretary, Sajid Javid, on two separate occasions. He was a member of the Treasury Select Committee for a two-year period and held committee roles related to the Nationality and Borders Bill and the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. Philip obtained his degree from University College, Oxford, and embarked on a business career before being elected as a member of Parliament in 2015. He served as Minister for London at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government from 2019 to 2020.
The Gambling Act of 2005 underwent a review process that commenced late last year. The review issued a request for evidence encompassing a variety of topics, including marketing, limitations, and the Gambling Commission. A white paper outlining the subsequent steps of the review is anticipated to be released later this year.
Oliver Dowden, who held the position of Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in 2020, stated that the Gambling Act of 2005 was being reviewed to “bring the Gambling Act into the digital age.”
Dowden was replaced as Culture Secretary by Nadine Dorries in the recent cabinet reshuffle.
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