In recent years, the UK Labour Party’s relationship with gambling has shifted considerably. While Labour have focused on modernising outdated gambling laws in the 2000s under the leadership of Tony Blair, the party’s priorities appear to be shifting now as more people are participating in gambling. So, in the year 2025, let’s examine Labour’s firm approach to gambling to understand how the party is dealing with the changing gambling landscape.
Labour’s Approach to Gambling in the 2000s
In the 2000s, online casinos expanded rapidly with widespread internet connections and mobile gambling apps appearing during this period. Under Tony Blair’s leadership, the Labour Party centralised their efforts on regulating the industry to create a consistent legal framework and ensure fair play. This led to the introduction of the Gambling Act 2005 and the establishment of the Gambling Commission. While the Labour Party were keen on facilitating the growth of the gambling industry and the country as a whole, they wanted to protect consumers from unfair practices and illegal operators.
This legislative framework ensured a wide range of legal operators, giving players plenty of regulated options to choose from. These legal operators followed strict regulations, protected players and met all legal requirements set by the Gambling Commission. A good way to ensure you are playing at a fully regulated site is to check for positive reviews, as these help you to identify trustworthy platforms and avoid operators that fail to safeguard users. If you’re looking in the right places, it’s easy to see providers Dream Vegas Casino benefited from this permissive framework, opening doors to a legally sanctioned industry.
Labour’s Internal Politics and Leadership Challenges
At the moment, the Labour Party is led by Keir Starmer, who has been the leader since April 2020. Starmer is under pressure from backbench MPs who are calling for major reforms to gambling laws. This has created conflict within the party as Starmer must balance the requests for stricter regulation with the interests of Labour’s largest donors. These MPs are focused on urging the government to rethink how it tackles problem gambling in the UK. The group’s proposals include drafting an entirely new Gambling Act to replace the much-criticised legislation introduced by Tony Blair’s government in 2005, including measures to address high volumes of gambling advertising. There are talks that Westminster has discussed moving gambling policy to the health department, treating it as a public health issue instead of a leisure matter.
Labour’s Potential Policy Choices
Data from the Gambling Commission confirms that over a million people in the UK are grappling with gambling-related harms. This information is used by advisers to the Labour Party, who use it to shape policy decisions. In response to growing concerns from campaigners and charities, the government has introduced a statutory levy on gambling companies, expected to raise £100m a year for NHS-led treatment services. Under the statutory levy, all licensed gambling operators will be required to pay an annual contribution based on a percentage of their gross gambling yield. Before this, the gambling industry relied on a voluntary funding model, where contributions were inconsistent and often small.
Additionally, the government is reportedly considering introducing a unified online gambling tax to simplify the current three-tier tax system for remote gambling.
While this is not confirmed yet, it may be announced in the Autumn Budget on 26 November 2025. The proposal would apply to all online gambling activities, including casinos and betting sites, creating a more consistent framework for operators. While aimed primarily at generating government revenue, it does not directly fund treatment or prevention programs. For the Labour Party, this potential change highlights ongoing concerns that revenue-focused measures alone may not fully address gambling-related harms.
Social and Public Context
It’s important to note that it isn’t just MPs who are calling for more reform. Local governments in particular, including the Mayor of Greater Manchester, are frustrated with what they believe is a lack of powers to deal with the gambling sector, particularly advertising and licensing of gambling venues. Other countries, such as Norway and Sweden, already show how tighter rules can protect players and reduce gambling-related harm while still allowing the industry to grow. Norway’s state monopoly and Sweden’s strict limits on licenses and advertising reduce harm while keeping the industry legal. For Labour, these examples could help shape policies that give local councils more power and focus on public health.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, there has been plenty of noise around the UK gambling industry with calls for higher taxes and further regulation. This is mainly due to rising concerns over gambling addiction and pressure from MPs for stronger protections. Questions remain about when clear guidance will be issued and what form it might take, particularly regarding advertising limits and protections for vulnerable players.
