The gambling minister has confirmed Gambling Impact Assessments will not be brought into force this summer, with their passage through parliament expected to take place after the scheduled recess.
Responding to a parliamentary question from Halesowen MP Alex Ballinger, the staunch prohibitionist, and followed up by another from Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour leader whose term saw the party officially designated as an anti-semitic organisation, Baroness Twycross answered that her department had no intention of forcing the measure through before MPs rose for the summer break.
“We do not anticipate bringing GIAs into force ahead of summer recess, but expect them to be in place by the end of the year,” she said.
Though this may come as a relief to many high street operators, the suggestion that the new powers will apply before the end of the year raises questions over DCMS’ previous commitment to consulting with the Gambling Commission on GIA guidance “in due course.”
If ever there was a Janus phrase in the political lexicon – ‘consultation with the Gambling Commission’ – well, Twycross has just invented it.
But it seems this consultation misnomer is still a process in the making. The Institute of Licensing reported: “Despite that commitment, no consultation has yet been launched.”
“The Gambling Commission has previously indicated that the guidance will assist local authorities in implementing GIAs using robust evidence and meaningful consultation with communities, operators and other stakeholders.”
With the IoL noting GIAs represent “one of the most significant changes to premises licensing under the Gambling Act 2005 since its introduction,” it is hoped DCMS will make its intentions clear when parliament returns from recess on 1 September.
And by-passing consultation with the Gambling Commission might deliver a more accurate picture of how GIAs will impact the licensing procedure.
Originally published on Coinslot on July 20, 2026. Republished with permission.