TLDR
- The UK Gambling Commission has launched a formal invitation for operators to suggest regulatory changes.
- Submissions are open until 25 September 2026.
- The call is not a consultation, but a direct request for industry proposals.
- Live consultations and recently finished policies, including the 2023 white paper, are off limits.
- The Betting and Gaming Council says it will work with the regulator on the proposals.
The UK Gambling Commission has asked the gambling industry to point out rules that may no longer work well. The regulator wants ideas on how regulation could be made simpler without lowering protections for players.
The invitation was announced last Friday. It follows a promise made in the Commission’s 2026–27 business plan to support innovation while keeping rules matched to risk.
Officials were clear that this is not a public consultation. Instead, it is a structured call for proposals from businesses already working in the sector.
Submissions will be accepted until 25 September 2026. Operators must use a form that asks for a summary of the issue, the reasoning behind it, and evidence of its impact.
What The Regulator Is Looking For
Tim Miller, Executive Director for Research and Policy, said the regulator wants to hear where rules can be improved or simplified. He said the goal is to find changes that support innovation while keeping regulation effective and fair.
The Commission said it wants feedback on licence conditions, codes of practice, technical standards, and operational processes. It is also interested in cases where rules overlap or have become outdated due to changes in law.
Businesses can also suggest improvements to reporting requirements. The Commission said operators may propose innovations that improve the experience for players, as long as those ideas still meet licensing objectives.
Some submissions may relate to laws outside the Commission’s control. In those cases, the regulator said it will pass the ideas on to the appropriate bodies.
Limits On What Can Be Submitted
The Commission set boundaries on what it will consider. Any topic tied to an ongoing consultation will not be reviewed through this process.
Recently introduced policies are also excluded. The Commission pointed to the Gambling Act Review and the 2023 white paper, High stakes: gambling reform for the digital age, as examples of work that should not be revisited.
The Betting and Gaming Council responded to the announcement. A spokesperson said the invitation gives the industry a chance to help keep regulation balanced.
The council said its members already follow some of the toughest gambling rules in the world. It added that operators spend heavily on compliance, safer gambling tools, and player protections.
The BGC said any changes coming from this process should keep those existing standards in place. It said it looks forward to working with the Commission to find practical improvements.
The Commission will also hold a session at the Operators Engagement Forum on 2 July 2026. That meeting will focus on ways to reduce regulatory costs for the industry.
Any proposal that would change Commission rules may need to go through a formal consultation before it can be put in place. Ideas that fall outside the regulator’s authority will be sent to other bodies, along with notes on how realistic they may be.
The deadline for submissions remains 25 September 2026, giving operators several months to prepare detailed proposals.
