Gambling Commission Unveils Ambitious Three-Year Corporate Strategy for 2024-2027

In a significant move toward modernizing gambling regulation, the Gambling Commission has introduced its latest Corporate Strategy for the period 2024 to 2027, aptly titled ‘Gambling Regulation in a Digital Age’. This strategic plan marks a pivotal shift in the Commission’s approach, emphasizing the adaptation to digital advancements and the evolving landscape of gambling regulation.

The strategy aligns closely with the objectives outlined in the Government’s recent White Paper, ‘High Stakes – Gambling reform for the digital age’, signaling the Commission’s dedication to spearheading comprehensive reforms. The outlined strategy not only reaffirms the Commission’s commitment to its core regulatory functions but also introduces an array of new commitments aimed at enhancing the regulatory framework. These commitments include leveraging data and analytics to bolster regulation effectiveness, refining operational functions, establishing clear, evidence-based requirements for licensees, proactively addressing issues, and ensuring the successful regulation of the National Lottery.

A notable aspect of the strategy is its emphasis on cross-cutting enablers such as revising the Commission’s people plan, stakeholder engagement strategies, and resource allocation to ensure efficient and effective regulation. These measures are designed to significantly improve operational efficiency and consumer protection, ensuring a fairer, safer, and crime-free gambling environment.

Commission Chair, Marcus Boyle, emphasized the strategy’s forward-looking nature, stating,

“Our new three-year strategy ‘Gambling regulation in a digital age’ sets out how we will deliver the reforms set out in the Government’s gambling white paper, and successfully regulate the National Lottery under a new licensee.”

Boyle further highlighted the Commission’s ambition to enhance regulatory effectiveness through innovative approaches such as the establishment of a data innovation hub, increasing transparency, and creatively disrupting illegal gambling operations.

Echoing Boyle’s sentiments, Commission CEO Andrew Rhodes expressed pride in the Commission’s progress, underlining the next phase’s focus on implementing key decisions through authoritative evidence and data. Rhodes stressed the importance of maintaining high standards for gambling consumers and collaborating with industry stakeholders to preemptively resolve issues, emphasizing cross-border cooperation to combat illegal gambling and foster regulatory best practices.

This strategic blueprint sets a clear course for the Gambling Commission to navigate the challenges of the digital age, with a strong emphasis on data-driven decision-making, stakeholder engagement, and innovative regulatory practices. It represents a comprehensive approach to ensuring the gambling market remains fair, safe, and crime-free, benefiting consumers, the wider public, and licensees alike.