Long-awaited government proposals to reform gambling laws are now unlikely to to be published until May, the Guardian understands, in a fresh delay that prompted a Labour MP to urge that turmoil within the Tory party must not disrupt the process.
The department for digital, culture, media and sport (DCMS) launched a review of gambling laws in December 2020, amid mounting concern over addiction and children’s exposure through advertising and football sponsorship.
A white paper was originally due to be published before the end of 2021 but was postponed until early 2022 after a cabinet reshuffle that saw John Whittingdale replaced as gambling minister by Chris Philp.
