Gambling in the United Kingdom

Gambling in the United Kingdom is regulated by the Gambling Commission on behalf of the government's Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) under the Gambling Act 2005. This Act of Parliament significantly updated the UK's gambling laws, including the introduction of a new structure of protections for children and vulnerable adults, as well as bringing the burgeoning Internet gaming sector within British regulation for the first time.

Gambling for centuries has been a main recreational activity in Great Britain.[1] Horse racing has been a favourite theme for over three centuries.[2] It has been heavily regulated.[3] Historically much of the opposition comes from evangelical Protestants, and from social reformers.[4][5]

On 8 December 2020, Nigel Huddleston MP announced a call for evidence to begin the Gambling Act Review.[6]

  1. ^ Roger Munting, An economic and social history of gambling in Britain and the USA. (Manchester UP, 1996).
  2. ^ Mike Huggins, Flat racing and British society, 1790-1914: A social and economic history (Routledge, 2014).
  3. ^ David Forrest, "An economic and social review of gambling in Great Britain." Journal of Gambling Business and Economics 7.3 (2013): 1–33.
  4. ^ Roger Munting, "Social opposition to gambling in Britain: an historical overview." International Journal of the History of Sport 10.3 (1993): 295–312.
  5. ^ Mike Huggins, "Betting, sport and the British, 1918-1939." Journal of Social History (2007): 283–306. Online[dead link]
  6. ^ "Gambling and Lotteries - Tuesday 8 December 2020 - Hansard - UK Parliament". hansard.parliament.uk. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2020.