Paul Scully Becomes Fifth Minister Appointed to Oversee Gambling Act Review

By John Isaac,
Editor at online-gambling.com

John Isaac Editor at online-gambling.com

John Isaac is an editor with many years of experience in the gambling industry. He writes expert articles on card games like blackjack and poker. In addition, he is also well aware of the US gambling laws and the Indian and Dutch gambling markets. You can rely on verified information and insightful details.

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Last updated: October 31, 2022

Paul Scully has become the fifth government minister to take charge of the UK Gambling Act review. Following the resignation of Damian Collins, Paul Scully, the Conservative MP for Sutton and Cheam, has been named to the position.

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has congratulated Paul Scully on his appointment. They express their willingness to work with him. Scully has been serving as the minister for London since 2020, and he will continue to do so alongside his new role as the Under Secretary of State at the DCMS (Department of Digital, Media, Culture and Sport).

Damian Collins revealed recently that he would be quitting the role. This led to the appointment of Paul Scully. Scully will be in charge of gambling in his new position, including the long-delayed review of the Gambling Act.

Paul Scully, a former Minister of State at the Department for Levelling Up, is now the 5th minister to be appointed to oversee the Gambling Act review. He is also the 3rd minister to occupy the position this year. Paul Scully will report to Michelle Donelan MP, who was re-appointed as the DCMS’s Secretary of State.

Paul Scully’s primary priority in his new position will be to deliver the Gambling Act of 2005 review. The review has faced several delays since 2020 due to recent political unrest in the UK. The aim of the review is to ensure that gambling regulation is appropriate for the digital age.

Response of the BGC to the Appointment

The BGC congratulated Paul Scully on his appointment. Michael Dugher, the BGC chief executive, also congratulated Michelle Donelan on her re-appointment. Both Paul Scully and Michelle Donelan have been encouraged by the trade association to maintain engagement with the industry. They’ve been urged to discover the right balance in the coming Gambling Review.

Michael Dugher stated that the jobs of 119,000 people are supported by their members, from tourism to world-leading British tech, from the high street to hospitality. He also mentioned that their industry delivers £4.5 billion in tax revenue for the Treasury and £7.7 billion in gross value added for the economy.

Michael Dugher Pays Tribute to Damian Collins, the Outgoing Gambling Minister

The BGC was established in 2019. According to the industry body, it represents more than 90% of online betting and gaming operators, retail betting shops, bingo, and casino operators. Michael Dugher paid tribute to Damian Collins (the outgoing gambling minister) for his desire to engage with the industry. Dugher also stated that they are ready to collaborate with DCMS to find precisely targeted, proportionate measures that achieve the proper balance.

He further mentioned that they intend to continue driving greater standards and significant changes on safer gambling in other to protect better those who are most vulnerable while at the same time making sure that the 22.5 million gamblers who enjoy a flutter each month responsibly and entirely safely, are free to do so.