The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has invited licensed gambling operators to submit proposals identifying the regulatory challenges they believe are placing unnecessary pressure on the industry, as part of efforts to improve the effectiveness of its oversight while maintaining strong consumer protections.
The initiative forms part of the Commission’s 2026-27 Business Plan, which aims to encourage innovation across the gambling sector without weakening regulatory standards. The regulator is seeking practical feedback on current rules, guidance and processes to better understand where improvements or simplifications could be made.
Although the Commission cannot change primary legislation itself, it said it wants to understand how existing legal requirements interact with its own regulatory framework and where these may create unnecessary obstacles for licensed businesses.
In a statement, the regulator explained that while legislative reform falls outside its direct authority, it is interested in learning about restrictions that affect operators, particularly where they overlap with Commission requirements or guidance. It added that any proposals relating to matters beyond its remit would be passed to the relevant government bodies.
The consultation will not cover issues that are already subject to ongoing or recently completed policy consultations, particularly where regulatory changes have not yet been fully assessed. This means operators are unlikely to influence recently introduced measures, including tax-related reforms that have prompted some gambling businesses to reduce operations in response to rising costs.
Operators have until the end of September to submit their recommendations. Each proposal should clearly identify the type of licensed gambling activity affected, specify the relevant section of the regulatory framework, explain how the current rules create burdens, and outline suggested solutions.
The Commission is also asking respondents to estimate the costs of implementing their proposals and recommend ways to measure whether any future changes deliver long-term benefits.
Tim Miller, Executive Director for Research and Policy at the UK Gambling Commission, said the regulator wants to hear directly from the industry about where regulation can be improved or streamlined without compromising the level of consumer protection that players expect.