New Gambling Minister in the UK: Chris Philp Takes the Reins
The new Gambling Minister in the United Kingdom is Chris Philp. He’s taking over from John Whittingdale, who was recently dismissed.
Philp was named last week as a junior minister at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). He’ll be in charge of the UK’s gambling sector, which includes the Gambling Act review.
Philp has been a vocal critic of the gambling industry in the past. He’s called for stricter rules on fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs). He was also critical of the Gambling Commission’s handling of the Football Index collapse.
The Gambling Commission is the UK’s gambling regulator. It’s responsible for making sure that gambling is conducted fairly and responsibly. The Commission has been criticized for its handling of the Football Index case. The company went bankrupt in March 2021, leaving many customers with financial losses.
Philp’s appointment as Gambling Minister is a significant event for the UK gambling industry. He’s likely to take a strong position on gambling regulation.
This presents a stark difference to Whittingdale, who headed a group that suggested broadening the reach of machines prior to taking on the gambling portfolio.
Michael Dugher, the head of the Betting and Gaming Council, emphasized the industry’s efforts and advancements as he prepared to collaborate with Philip.
“On behalf of the 119,000 positions supported by the members of the Betting and Gaming Council, I extend a warm welcome to Chris Philip as the new minister responsible for gambling,” he stated. “He enters this role with a strong reputation as a skilled and capable minister.”
“We have achieved substantial progress towards the objectives outlined in the Gambling Review White Paper, and we are confident that the government will not want to lose momentum.”
“The members of the Betting and Gaming Council generate £4.5 billion in tax revenue for our public services and contribute £7.7 billion to the economy in terms of added value, making it crucial that the government continues to adopt an evidence-based approach to the review.”
“I anticipate working closely with Chris in the months ahead as the Betting and Gaming Council continues to drive significant change and elevate standards of safer gambling, ensuring we achieve a balance between safeguarding the vulnerable and guaranteeing freedom for the millions who engage in gambling safely and responsibly.”
Philip has represented Croydon South in Parliament since 2015, having previously held junior positions in the Home Office and Ministry of Justice.
From 2019 to 2020, he held the position of Minister for London at the Department of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
The 45-year-old representative served as the Conservative Party’s Vice-Chairman for Policy between 2018 and 2019 and on two occasions as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the current Health Secretary Sajid Javid. He served on the Treasury 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 started a business venture before being elected as a representative in 2015.
The 2005 Gambling Act review was initiated last year, seeking information on a variety of subjects including advertising, limits, and the Gambling Commission. A white paper outlining the next steps will be published later this year.
Oliver Dowden, who was then the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), stated in 2020 that the 2005 Gambling Act was being reviewed to “bring the Gambling Act into the digital age.”
Dowden was replaced by Nadine Dorries as Culture Secretary in the recent cabinet reshuffle.
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