The UK has launched its first comprehensive independent review of gambling law in a quarter of a century. The new Gambling Policy Commission (GPC), announced on November 9, 2026, will examine whether the Gambling Act 2005 is still fit for purpose in a market transformed by online gambling, prediction markets, artificial intelligence and new forms of digital entertainment. Its final report is due in 2028 and could lead to a major rewrite of British gambling legislation.
For UK poker players, sports bettors and operators, the review is one of the most important regulatory developments in years. Here is what the commission will look at, who is leading it, and what it could mean for online poker.
Who Is Running the Review
The commission is chaired by Jagjit Chadha OBE, professor of economics at the University of Cambridge. Professor James Reade of the University of Reading serves as chief economist. Members come from economics, law, public policy, health, academia and sport, including Tom Savill, a director of Plumpton Racecourse and co-author of the 2025 report Securing Racing's Future.
Chadha summed up the reason for the review by noting that the last comprehensive review "was undertaken a quarter of a century ago," and that the market and technology have changed considerably since.
Twenty-Five Years Since the Budd Review
The last major independent review was led by Sir Alan Budd. His 2001 report made 176 recommendations, most of which were accepted and built into the Gambling Act 2005. That Act created the modern framework for commercial gambling in Great Britain, including the Gambling Commission as regulator.
A great deal has changed since then. In 2001, smartphones did not exist, online poker was in its infancy, and in-play betting barely existed. Today, most gambling activity happens online, and new products such as prediction markets blur the line between betting and financial trading.
Will Hutton, president of the Academy of Social Sciences, argued that the 2005 Act has been "superseded by the march of technology," pointing to the growth of prediction markets and calling for urgent review of consumer protection and tax policy.
What the Commission Will Examine
The scope is broad. According to World Casino Directory's report, the GPC will look at:
The Core Legal Framework
- Whether the Gambling Act 2005 remains effective, and whether legislative or regulatory changes are needed.
- Whether the 2023 Gambling White Paper reforms delivered measurable improvements and were proportionate.
- Coordination of gambling regulation across government.
New Products and Technology
- Online gambling and consumer protection.
- Prediction markets, which have grown rapidly in the US.
- Artificial intelligence and gambling-like features in digital products.
- Activities that overlap with financial markets.
Tax and Funding
- Taxation, including recent duty changes.
- The statutory levy that funds research, prevention and treatment.
- Whether part of General Betting Duty should become a statutory Sports Betting Levy.
Illegal Gambling
- Enforcement involving payment providers, websites, search engines, social media and app stores.
Harm and Liability
- Gambling-related harm, and the effectiveness and cost of interventions.
- Whether future law should create civil liability for gambling harm.
Market Structure
- Whether some remote gaming should remain under commercial licences or move to restricted licensing or public provision.
- The position of horseracing, including the betting levy and media rights.
- Sports organisations' economic rights over betting on their events.
The Numbers Behind the Review
The report cites several figures that frame the debate:
- £5 billion: Gross value added from gambling in 2024, according to DCMS estimates.
- 75,000: Jobs supported by the sector in 2025.
- £3.9 billion: Betting and gaming duty receipts recorded by HMRC in 2025/26.
- 25%: The new rate of Machine Games Duty after the Autumn Budget raised it by five percentage points.
On illegal gambling, a Gambling Commission survey of 14,257 online respondents found that 2.5% of adults in Great Britain who gambled online in the past year had used an illegal gambling website in the previous four weeks. Ismail Vali, president of Gambling Compliance International, cautioned that the percentage of users does not capture the revenue at stake, since a small, high-value audience can generate substantial criminal revenue.
What It Could Mean for UK Online Poker
Poker is not singled out in the commission's terms, but several areas could directly affect players.
Remote Gaming Licensing
The most striking item is the question of whether some remote gaming should move away from commercial licensing toward restricted licensing or even public provision. Any change to how online casino and poker products are licensed would reshape the UK market. Our UK poker sites guide covers the current regulated landscape.
Affordability and Deposit Controls
The commission will assess whether the 2023 White Paper reforms worked. Those reforms led to tighter checks and new limits; we covered the UK's gross deposit limits earlier this year. Poker players, whose deposits often fund long sessions rather than single bets, have a particular interest in proportionate rules.
Tax
Remote gaming duty affects how much value operators can return to players through promotions and rakeback. Higher tax burdens tend to squeeze player value. Our rakeback guide explains why that matters for regular players.
Illegal and Offshore Sites
The focus on enforcement through payment providers, search engines and app stores suggests that offshore operators targeting UK players could face more pressure. For players, the safest option remains licensed sites. Our safe poker sites guide explains how to check a site's licence.
The Prediction Markets Question
Prediction markets are one of the clearest reasons the review is needed. In the US, platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket have grown rapidly, triggering legal battles between federal and state regulators. We have covered that fight extensively, including the CFTC's geofencing order and the Kalshi tribal lands injunction.
The UK commission's decision to examine prediction markets, and activities overlapping with financial markets more broadly, suggests British policymakers want to settle the question before such products scale in the UK.
Timeline
- Now: A public call for evidence is open.
- February 12, 2027: Deadline for evidence submissions.
- Through 2027: Evidence gathering and commissioned research continue.
- 2028: Final report due.
Players, operators and other stakeholders can submit evidence before the February deadline.
What This Means for Players
In the short term, nothing changes. The Gambling Act 2005 remains in force, and the current rules continue to apply. But over the next two years, this commission will shape the debate on how UK gambling is regulated for the next generation.
For poker players, the key areas to watch are remote gaming licensing, tax and affordability rules. Any significant change in those areas would affect the sites available to UK players, the promotions they offer and how players can manage their bankrolls. If you play in the UK, now is a good time to make sure you understand your rights as a customer and to keep an eye on the UK poker market.
The Bottom Line
The Gambling Policy Commission is the most ambitious review of British gambling law since the Budd report of 2001. Its remit covers almost every major issue in the modern industry: online gambling, prediction markets, AI, tax, illegal gambling and gambling harm. With a final report due in 2028, it could set the course for UK gambling regulation for decades. Poker players should follow its progress closely.