Gambling Business chief Peter Hannibal seems to have thrown down a challenge to the Gambling Commission to come up with a strategy that meets government requirements for the regulator to cut admin costs for businesses by 25 percent and deliver regulation that encourages new investment and growth. Cheeky? No. This is absolutely crucial in 2026 and, says Hannibal, “we are absolutely determined that the government and the Commission meet these objectives.” Brilliant stuff. Game on.

In March 2025, the Government published a new approach to ensure regulators and regulation supports growth which includes commitments for regulation to be targeted and proportionate, protects consumers and supports competition, but also encourages new investment, innovation, and growth and to cut administrative costs for business by 25 percent by the end of the Parliament. 

We are absolutely determined that the government and the Commission meet these objectives.

That is going to be a fascinating exchange given what we already know is on the horizon for next year. It is going to be interesting to see how the Commission will achieve these targets, but they will have the full support and the input of the GBG to ensure that they can.

It is imperative that regulation ensures both player safety and business growth. It is the Commission’s responsibility to create a framework that facilitates both.

On the technical side we also have a lot of work to do. And it will be a battle – I think confidence is probably the wrong description at this point. The best we can say is that we have some battles coming up and we are confident that our arguments are both sound and persuasive.

The outcome of the GMTS consultation and potential subsequent consultations relating to changes. 

These battlegrounds are:

– The bingo proposals if progressed as drafted will have a huge impact on the high street and incur more costs to the industry – whether adapting layouts or changing both gambling licensing and planning permissions;

– Changes from the Cat D consultation;

– Increased resistance to new premises applications as more local authorities call for increased powers along with a consultation from MHCLG on cumulative impact assessments;

– Increased scrutiny on what the industry is doing to protect the vulnerable especially those that have self-excluded  which may or may not give the Minister confidence to reconsider changes to the 80/20 rules;

– Increasing negative and dishonest press coverage of land-based gambling;

– More waves of GSGB data;

– Is an Ombudsman still on the cards?