UK – The National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) has been commissioned by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) and the Gambling Commission to review the Gambling Act.

The Gambling Act Review was launched in 2020 to examine whether changes to gambling regulation are needed since the Gambling Act of 2005.

NatCen’s review will set out the evaluation design to decide how effective the Gambling Act Review has been in preventing gambling-related harm.

The evaluation will also consider whether there is appropriate balance between consumer freedoms and choice and prevention of harm to vulnerable groups and wider communities, as well as whether customers are suitably protected when gambling.

NatCen will develop a Theory of Change (ToC) for the review in co-design with DCMS and the Gambling Commission.

The ToC will be supported by document analysis and NatCen will deliver a complete evaluation plan considering feasible approaches and practical recommendations for implementing the review.

The review follows the opening of the NatCen Centre for Gambling Research earlier this year to help the prevalence of gambling and understanding behaviours and risk profiles related to gambling harm and stigma.

Dr Sokratis Dinos, director of health policy at NatCen, said: “The past decade has seen a significant shift in the perspective of gambling harms, and this contract is pivotal in providing feasible approaches and practical recommendations.

“This evaluation will consider the extent to which measures have effectively prevented gambling related harm to vulnerable groups and wider communities, while enabling the balance of consumer freedom and informed choice, and explore the wider impact on gambling behaviours and the market.”