UK Gambling Commission invites industry proposals to cut regulatory burdens

The UK Gambling Commission is inviting the gambling industry to submit evidence-backed proposals on where regulatory requirements, guidance or administrative processes could be streamlined. The call is open until 25 September 2026 and is explicitly described by the Commission as a formal invitation for proposals rather than a consultation.

What the Commission is asking for

The initiative forms part of the regulator’s 2026–27 business plan. The Commission says it wants compliance costs and the cost of demonstrating compliance to remain proportionate to risks to consumers while preserving the licensing objectives under the Gambling Act 2005.

Proposals can cover the Commission’s Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice, technical standards, statements of principles, guidance, reporting processes and interactions between different parts of the regulatory framework. The regulator also says businesses may identify requirements that have become outdated because of later regulatory or legislative changes.

The invitation is not limited to removing rules. The Commission says proposals can also suggest ways to improve the consumer experience while remaining consistent with the licensing objectives, or ways to communicate regulatory expectations more clearly.

What is outside the main scope

The Commission says it is unlikely to revisit live policy areas where a formal consultation has taken place but the outcome has not yet been published. It also cautions against reopening recently implemented reforms that are still being evaluated unless there is strong evidence of adverse consequences.

That is particularly relevant to measures flowing from the Gambling Act Review and the 2023 gambling white paper. The regulator says this call should not be used to propose new or additional requirements of that kind.

What operators need to include

The Commission asks submissions to identify the current requirement or process, explain the burden or restriction, set out the expected benefits and risks, and provide evidence where possible. It also asks for views on implementation costs, evaluation and possible unintended consequences.

Where a proposal concerns legislation outside the Commission’s direct remit, the regulator says it can pass the issue to the relevant body and, where appropriate, provide advice on its viability.

Deadline and next steps

Proposals can be submitted until 25 September 2026. The Commission says it will review them and consider what can be taken forward, but any change that replaces or streamlines existing controls could still require a separate formal consultation before implementation.

The practical significance is therefore procedural rather than an immediate regulatory change: the current rules remain in force while the Commission gathers industry proposals. Any later change would depend on evidence, regulatory powers, consumer-protection considerations and, in some cases, legislation or a further consultation.

Source: UK Gambling Commission, Call for industry proposals to address the burdens associated with gambling regulation, opened 26 June 2026 and closing 25 September 2026.