UK Gambling Law Review Becomes Latest Westminster Football

Image source: Rennett Stowe from USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

You can currently bet on Boris Johnson to either leave in ignominy or cling on to power for a few more weeks. The choice, as they say, is yours. However, whilst we’re all following along with the ever more insane incidences Bojo throws up, and await his dramatic downfall, other things are falling through the cracks. Just take the government’s long touted gambling law review, which would affect online betting sites in the UK like Bet365. They’ve just delayed that. Again.

Politics in the UK has livened up intensely over the last few years. They’ve replaced the drab grey background hum of quiet incompetence with an entire Arthurian soap opera. We’ve all now heard of the antics of Boris Johnson and his acolytes. Indeed the government is now so busy combatting the fallout from that farce they’ve little time to devote to governing. They’re letting little matters like the new gambling law review slip by the wayside as their priorities shift.

Whether you think the government ought to prioritize defending the PM over running the country is your own affair. However you’ll find it increasingly tricky to avoid admitting that is their current focus. After all, they should have already finished the gambling law review. By now we ought to have the White Paper. Online sportsbook sites in the UK like Bet365 would know where they stand. Instead of which we’re all at sea wondering when Boris’ boat will finally sink.  

Defending Boris Delays All Else On The Agenda

“Of course time must be taken to gather the evidence to ensure the right reforms are put in place.” Said Carolyn Harris, Chair of the cross-party parliamentary group examining gambling-related harm. “But the gambling law review was announced over two years ago.” She said, adding; “Every day of delay leads to further gambling-related harm while the industry rakes in profits.” Which, frankly, is an opposition MP twisting the knife the PM is getting stabbed with.

“We simply can’t wait until May to see this White Paper.” 

• Liz Ritchie – Co-founder of ‘Gambling With Lives’

Everyone is aware there’s a certain degree of paralysis in government at the moment. You can bet on the Conservatives backbenchers loathing every minute of it. After a massive populist win at the last election to fall this far is terrible. They shouldn’t have to delay announcing something as simple as a gambling law review. Millions of people bet on sports in the UK every week, it’s not like it’s a niche specialist subject. This is bread and butter stuff, and they’re not dealing with it.  

Bet365 Awaits Governments Gambling Law Review

“The government must not let its own internal problems stand in the way of much needed reforms for this country – it is time for action.” Carolyn was not letting go of this one. You can pretty much bet on the Labour Party to do a lot of this now. Demanding action from a government that can barely speak. You could always bet on politics in the UK to be a tad passive aggressive. Now it’s just a little less passive. The gambling law review is just the latest weapon in their arsenal.

“The government made a commitment to reform our gambling laws in 2019. Two years later they are still deliberating.”

• Carolyn Harris, MP for Swansea East

So just when will we know which way UK gambling laws will lurch next? Well they say May, but might just be kicking the can down the road a way. One thing is for sure, the gambling law review is just one of the things you’ll find mentioned more often now. Once they’d have been merely part of the chorus, something in the background. Now, as the Boris Johnson soap opera reaches a climax they could well prove one of the arrows that finally slays the Bojo beast.

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We take a look at how the government announcing a delay in their new gambling law review has given Labour more ammunition to use against them.