The UK Government will delay the publication of the Gambling Review White Paper for a fourth time.
Advisers to outgoing PM Boris Johnson have suggested that the timing is not right and that any release of the white paper should be deferred until a new leader of the Conservative Party is chosen to take over at No. 10.
According to reports in The Guardian, the white paper had been added to the government’s scheduled announcements for this week and was due to be published on Tuesday. However, senior adviser David Canzini is understood to have told Johnson that it should not be published as it would require further legislation from the new party leader and Prime Minister.
This is the fourth time that the gambling review white paper has been delayed since it was first announced back in 2019. This now means that there will be no review of current gambling laws nor publication of the white paper until a new Prime Minister is chosen.
Speaking of the need for a delay, former conservative leader Duncan Smith said:
“A white paper has to be linked to legislation, and a caretaker government can’t do the legislation.”
Just last week, reports emerged that leading MPs including Smith, had planned to bring up their concerns about ties between the Prime Minister’s advisers and the gambling industry.
Based in London, Natasha is a former sports journalist with experience working for some of the biggest athletes & brands in the world of sports and iGaming.