Gambling Commission’s Tim Miller Highlights Major Regulatory Reforms at UK Summit

On 3 September 2025, Tim Miller, Executive Director of the Gambling Commission, delivered a keynote address at the Peers for Gambling Reform Gambling Summit, detailing the progress and future direction of gambling regulation in Britain.

Miller emphasized that the UK is currently experiencing the most significant gambling reform programme since the 2005 Gambling Act. Highlighting the 2023 Gambling Act Review and subsequent White Paper, he noted the shift toward a comprehensive, evidence-led approach to regulatory change, supported across Parliament and led by the Gambling Commission.

Since the publication of the White Paper, the Commission has implemented numerous reforms aimed at protecting consumers, including:

Financial vulnerability checks for players at a £150 threshold per 30-day rolling period

Enhanced control over direct marketing, giving consumers greater choice in how they receive communications

Improved online product fairness, with reduced speed and intensity and increased consumer understanding

Stricter age verification for gambling premises, requiring checks for anyone appearing under 25 and mandatory test purchases even for smaller operators

Miller acknowledged that while progress has been substantial, further reforms may be necessary given the rapidly evolving gambling landscape. He stressed that effectiveness must be measured through evidence rather than assumptions, outlining a shared evaluation plan with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the National Centre for Social Research to assess the impact of the White Paper reforms.

The speech also highlighted the Commission’s intensified enforcement efforts against the illegal gambling market, including issuing hundreds of cease-and-desist notices, removing tens of thousands of illegal URLs, and disrupting unauthorized websites.

Miller reinforced that while the national regulator maintains oversight of licensed operators, the responsibility for premises inspections remains with local authorities, in line with the Gambling Act. The Commission will continue to focus on statutory responsibilities while implementing and evaluating reforms, ensuring that delivery, not just policy development, drives consumer protection.

Concluding his address, Miller urged stakeholders to prioritize effective implementation and measurement of current reforms, emphasizing that the ongoing goal remains a gambling industry that is safe, fair, and free from crime.