The National Lottery continues to lead the gambling sector with robust, industry-leading consumer protections and consistently low rates of gambling-related harm.

The Gambling Commission actively monitors rates of gambling-related harm and provides regular updates to DCMS on trends related to the National Lottery. There are currently no plans to change payment methods for in-person National Lottery play.

An evaluation is underway to assess the impact of various measures that have been introduced as part of the 2023 Gambling White Paper. DCMS and the Gambling Commission commissioned the National Centre for Social Research to undertake this evaluation in January 2024.

The evaluation will seek to establish whether these measures are being delivered effectively, understand if there are any unintended consequences, and capture learning to inform future policy development. We expect the evaluation report to be published later this year.

However we will continue to consider further reforms where technology develops, consumer behaviour changes or risks arise. Any future regulatory changes will always be based on evidence.

The Government is committed to supporting the implementation of key measures in the 2023 Gambling White Paper, including the introduction of Financial Risk Assessments (FRAs) for online gambling.

The Gambling Commission’s pilot demonstrated that Financial Risk Assessments can be undertaken without friction in 97% of cases. Given that less than 3% of accounts will meet the threshold for assessment, that means around 99.9% of all active accounts will either have no assessment or these checks will happen without friction.

The Government recognises that the threat of movement to the illegal market does exist, but this does not mean that we should avoid appropriate controls on licensed operators. The illegal market is best tackled by improving player safety and managing risk.

We are already taking wider action to tackle the illegal market. Key measures include an additional £26 million of funding over three years for the Gambling Commission to enable them to increase their activity to tackle the illegal market; a consultation on banning physical unlicensed gambling sponsorship and advertising; and the establishment of the Illegal Gambling Taskforce, which will consider what more can be done to tackle the threats posed by the illegal market.

The Government is committed to supporting the implementation of key measures in the 2023 Gambling White Paper, including the introduction of Financial Risk Assessments (FRAs) for online gambling.

The Gambling Commission’s pilot demonstrated that Financial Risk Assessments can be undertaken without friction in 97% of cases. Given that less than 3% of accounts will meet the threshold for assessment, that means around 99.9% of all active accounts will either have no assessment or these checks will happen without friction.

The Government recognises that the threat of movement to the illegal market does exist, but this does not mean that we should avoid appropriate controls on licensed operators. The illegal market is best tackled by improving player safety and managing risk.

We are already taking wider action to tackle the illegal market. Key measures include an additional £26 million of funding over three years for the Gambling Commission to enable them to increase their activity to tackle the illegal market; a consultation on banning physical unlicensed gambling sponsorship and advertising; and the establishment of the Illegal Gambling Taskforce, which will consider what more can be done to tackle the threats posed by the illegal market.

The following is a breakdown of enforcement action taken by the Gambling Commission against unlicensed gambling websites from April 2024 to present. Data from before April 2024 is not available.

Between April 2026 – present:

• Issued 290 Cease and Desists to advertisers and operators.

• Reported 147,721 URLs to various search engines and saw 19,678 URLs removed as a result so far.

• Referred 366 websites to the search engines for delisting.

• Disrupted 361 websites meaning they have either been taken down or geo-blocked.

Between April 2025 and March 2026:

• Issued 741 Cease and Desists to advertisers and operators.

• Reported 397,527 URLs to various search engines and saw 266,667 URLs removed as a result.

• Referred 1068 websites to the search engines for delisting.

• Disrupted 1134 websites meaning they have either been taken down or geo-blocked.

Between April 2024 and March 2025

• Issued 868 Cease and Desists to advertisers and operators.

• Reported 143,683 to various search engines and seen 95,759 URLs removed as a result.

• Referred 611 websites to the search engines for delisting.

• Disrupted 496 websites meaning they have either been taken down or geo-blocked.

HMRC does not produce an estimate of the tax revenue foregone specifically as a result of UK consumers gambling with unlicensed operators.

The tax gap for betting and gaming duties is included within the “other excise duties” tax gap published in Measuring tax gaps 2026.

Limitations in the available data and methods mean that the tax gap for these components cannot be estimated individually. The average percentage revenue losses should therefore not be considered estimates of the true percentage losses from betting and gaming, as they are unknown.

NHS England will be developing a national commissioning specification to ensure consistent, high-quality care across all gambling treatment and support services nationwide. Given the evolving evidence landscape and NHS England’s plans to allocate funding to innovation and evaluation over the coming years, this document will be updated as required to reflect new findings, including trends and levels of usage of support services.

The 2023 Gambling White Paper proposed Financial Risk Assessments (FRAs) as a key tool to help gambling operators consider a customer’s risk profile and intervene if necessary. The White Paper itself received significant Parliamentary scrutiny, and the detailed policy was the subject of public consultation and subsequent piloting by the Gambling Commission. Engagement with the Department took place throughout this period.

On 7 July 2026, the Gambling Commission announced that its Board had decided to implement FRAs in a careful, phased way and that a full consultation response would be published in the Autumn. The Commission made these evidence-based decisions under the statutory powers provided to them under the Gambling Act 2005, and specifically to support the Gambling Act licensing objective to protect children and other vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling, working closely with the government throughout. All relevant impacts were considered alongside harm reduction, including: reducing friction for customers, data protection, impacts on industry and impacts on specific sectors including horseracing.

The Gambling Commission’s Board will continue to have oversight of implementation and evaluation. The Government will continue to engage actively with the Commission on the effectiveness of implementation.

The Government recognises the significant contribution that racing makes to British sporting culture and its importance to the British economy. Horseracing is the only sport in receipt of a direct government-mandated levy which helps to drive improvements in the sport. We do recognise that the horseracing sector has concerns about FRAs. Both the former Minister for Gambling and the Gambling Commission have met the British Horseracing Authority and wider racing stakeholders to discuss these concerns. We would encourage the sector to engage constructively with the Commission during the upcoming implementation phase.

The 2023 Gambling White Paper proposed Financial Risk Assessments (FRAs) as a key tool to help gambling operators consider a customer’s risk profile and intervene if necessary. The White Paper itself received significant Parliamentary scrutiny, and the detailed policy was the subject of public consultation and subsequent piloting by the Gambling Commission. Engagement with the Department took place throughout this period.

On 7 July 2026, the Gambling Commission announced that its Board had decided to implement FRAs in a careful, phased way and that a full consultation response would be published in the Autumn. The Commission made these evidence-based decisions under the statutory powers provided to them under the Gambling Act 2005, and specifically to support the Gambling Act licensing objective to protect children and other vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling, working closely with the government throughout. All relevant impacts were considered alongside harm reduction, including: reducing friction for customers, data protection, impacts on industry and impacts on specific sectors including horseracing.

The Gambling Commission’s Board will continue to have oversight of implementation and evaluation. The Government will continue to engage actively with the Commission on the effectiveness of implementation.

The Government recognises the significant contribution that racing makes to British sporting culture and its importance to the British economy. Horseracing is the only sport in receipt of a direct government-mandated levy which helps to drive improvements in the sport. We do recognise that the horseracing sector has concerns about FRAs. Both the former Minister for Gambling and the Gambling Commission have met the British Horseracing Authority and wider racing stakeholders to discuss these concerns. We would encourage the sector to engage constructively with the Commission during the upcoming implementation phase.

The 2023 Gambling White Paper proposed Financial Risk Assessments (FRAs) as a key tool to help gambling operators consider a customer’s risk profile and intervene if necessary. The White Paper itself received significant Parliamentary scrutiny, and the detailed policy was the subject of public consultation and subsequent piloting by the Gambling Commission. Engagement with the Department took place throughout this period.

On 7 July 2026, the Gambling Commission announced that its Board had decided to implement FRAs in a careful, phased way and that a full consultation response would be published in the Autumn. The Commission made these evidence-based decisions under the statutory powers provided to them under the Gambling Act 2005, and specifically to support the Gambling Act licensing objective to protect children and other vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling, working closely with the government throughout. All relevant impacts were considered alongside harm reduction, including: reducing friction for customers, data protection, impacts on industry and impacts on specific sectors including horseracing.

The Gambling Commission’s Board will continue to have oversight of implementation and evaluation. The Government will continue to engage actively with the Commission on the effectiveness of implementation.

The Government recognises the significant contribution that racing makes to British sporting culture and its importance to the British economy. Horseracing is the only sport in receipt of a direct government-mandated levy which helps to drive improvements in the sport. We do recognise that the horseracing sector has concerns about FRAs. Both the former Minister for Gambling and the Gambling Commission have met the British Horseracing Authority and wider racing stakeholders to discuss these concerns. We would encourage the sector to engage constructively with the Commission during the upcoming implementation phase.

The 2023 Gambling White Paper proposed Financial Risk Assessments (FRAs) as a key tool to help gambling operators consider a customer’s risk profile and intervene if necessary. The White Paper itself received significant Parliamentary scrutiny, and the detailed policy was the subject of public consultation and subsequent piloting by the Gambling Commission. Engagement with the Department took place throughout this period.

On 7 July 2026, the Gambling Commission announced that its Board had decided to implement FRAs in a careful, phased way and that a full consultation response would be published in the Autumn. The Commission made these evidence-based decisions under the statutory powers provided to them under the Gambling Act 2005, and specifically to support the Gambling Act licensing objective to protect children and other vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling, working closely with the government throughout. All relevant impacts were considered alongside harm reduction, including: reducing friction for customers, data protection, impacts on industry and impacts on specific sectors including horseracing.

The Gambling Commission’s Board will continue to have oversight of implementation and evaluation. The Government will continue to engage actively with the Commission on the effectiveness of implementation.

The Government recognises the significant contribution that racing makes to British sporting culture and its importance to the British economy. Horseracing is the only sport in receipt of a direct government-mandated levy which helps to drive improvements in the sport. We do recognise that the horseracing sector has concerns about FRAs. Both the former Minister for Gambling and the Gambling Commission have met the British Horseracing Authority and wider racing stakeholders to discuss these concerns. We would encourage the sector to engage constructively with the Commission during the upcoming implementation phase.

The 2023 Gambling White Paper proposed Financial Risk Assessments (FRAs) as a key tool to help gambling operators consider a customer’s risk profile and intervene if necessary. The White Paper itself received significant Parliamentary scrutiny, and the detailed policy was the subject of public consultation and subsequent piloting by the Gambling Commission. Engagement with the Department took place throughout this period.

On 7 July 2026, the Gambling Commission announced that its Board had decided to implement FRAs in a careful, phased way and that a full consultation response would be published in the Autumn. The Commission made these evidence-based decisions under the statutory powers provided to them under the Gambling Act 2005, and specifically to support the Gambling Act licensing objective to protect children and other vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling, working closely with the government throughout. All relevant impacts were considered alongside harm reduction, including: reducing friction for customers, data protection, impacts on industry and impacts on specific sectors including horseracing.

The Gambling Commission’s Board will continue to have oversight of implementation and evaluation. The Government will continue to engage actively with the Commission on the effectiveness of implementation.

The Government recognises the significant contribution that racing makes to British sporting culture and its importance to the British economy. Horseracing is the only sport in receipt of a direct government-mandated levy which helps to drive improvements in the sport. We do recognise that the horseracing sector has concerns about FRAs. Both the former Minister for Gambling and the Gambling Commission have met the British Horseracing Authority and wider racing stakeholders to discuss these concerns. We would encourage the sector to engage constructively with the Commission during the upcoming implementation phase.

The Government is clear that all policy and regulatory decisions related to gambling advertising must be made by considering a wide range of impartial, accurate and up-to-date research.

We will always consider a wide range of evidence, including on the volume of advertising, when making policy and regulatory decisions. This remains an area we keep under regular review.

As set out by ministers from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in answers to questions on this topic, in order to operate in Great Britain, any prediction market would require a licence from the Gambling Commission, the independent regulator for gambling. If approved, they would be classified as a ‘Betting Intermediary’ and subject to regulation under the Gambling Act 2005. The government will monitor the potential impacts of prediction markets and consider further action if needed.

As set out by ministers from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in answers to questions on this topic, in order to operate in Great Britain, any prediction market would require a licence from the Gambling Commission, the independent regulator for gambling. If approved, they would be classified as a ‘Betting Intermediary’ and subject to regulation under the Gambling Act 2005. The government will monitor the potential impacts of prediction markets and consider further action if needed.

As set out by ministers from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in answers to questions on this topic, in order to operate in Great Britain, any prediction market would require a licence from the Gambling Commission, the independent regulator for gambling. If approved, they would be classified as a ‘Betting Intermediary’ and subject to regulation under the Gambling Act 2005. The government will monitor the potential impacts of prediction markets and consider further action if needed.

As set out by ministers from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in answers to questions on this topic, in order to operate in Great Britain, any prediction market would require a licence from the Gambling Commission, the independent regulator for gambling. If approved, they would be classified as a ‘Betting Intermediary’ and subject to regulation under the Gambling Act 2005. The government will monitor the potential impacts of prediction markets and consider further action if needed.

As set out by ministers from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in answers to questions on this topic, in order to operate in Great Britain, any prediction market would require a licence from the Gambling Commission, the independent regulator for gambling. If approved, they would be classified as a ‘Betting Intermediary’ and subject to regulation under the Gambling Act 2005. The government will monitor the potential impacts of prediction markets and consider further action if needed.

The 2023 Gambling White Paper proposed Financial Risk Assessments (FRAs) as a key tool to help gambling operators consider a customer’s risk profile and intervene if necessary. The White Paper itself received significant Parliamentary scrutiny, and the detailed policy was the subject of public consultation and subsequent piloting by the Gambling Commission. Engagement with the Department took place throughout this period.

On 7 July 2026, the Gambling Commission announced that its Board had decided to implement FRAs in a careful, phased way and that a full consultation response would be published in the Autumn. The Commission made these evidence-based decisions under the statutory powers provided to them under the Gambling Act 2005, and specifically to support the Gambling Act licensing objective to protect children and other vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling, working closely with the government throughout. All relevant impacts were considered alongside harm reduction, including: reducing friction for customers, data protection, impacts on industry and impacts on specific sectors including horseracing.

The Gambling Commission’s Board will continue to have oversight of implementation and evaluation. The Government will continue to engage actively with the Commission on the effectiveness of implementation.

The Government recognises the significant contribution that racing makes to British sporting culture and its importance to the British economy. Horseracing is the only sport in receipt of a direct government-mandated levy which helps to drive improvements in the sport. We do recognise that the horseracing sector has concerns about FRAs. Both the former Minister for Gambling and the Gambling Commission have met the British Horseracing Authority and wider racing stakeholders to discuss these concerns. We would encourage the sector to engage constructively with the Commission during the upcoming implementation phase.