Vicky Foxcroft Appointed as UK's New Gambling Minister

Vicky Foxcroft MP has been appointed as Minister responsible for gambling in the United Kingdom. She replaces the outgoing incumbent, Baroness Fiona Twycross. The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) said in a statement welcoming the appointment that Foxcroft has a proven track record of urging for an evidence-based approach in regulating the gambling industry.

Foxcroft believes that problem gambling should be coded into the country’s public health framework. She advocates for 'fit-for-purpose' and 'evidence-based' regulation to meaningfully reduce the levels of harm that emanate from the sector.

Foxcroft's appointment comes at a time when the gambling sector is facing significant challenges, including the growing influence of the black market and increasing regulatory pressures. The BGC has repeatedly criticized attempts to raise the tax burden on the regulated sector, arguing that such moves only end up driving players away, causing harm, and reducing the tax footprint in the long run.