The Minister for Gambling, Baroness Twycross has provided the clearest indication yet that the industry will not have to witness the White Paper recommendations on gambling reform kicked into the political long-grass or left to wither on the vine.

Speaking at a Labour Party Conference fringe event organised by the Social Market Foundation, Baroness Twycross underlined the cross-party support that the White Paper enjoyed before it was side-lined by the snap general election. She said: “In opposition we (the Labour Party) were broadly supportive of the Gambling White Paper and we do not believe that gambling is wrong in and of itself and we do recognise that most people who gamble do so safely but we absolutely believe that we need to strengthen protections to protect those that are at risk of gambling addiction and of harmful gambling. I am particularly keen to make sure that we address the problem of gambling amongst children and young people but also that we protect families from harmful gambling with loved ones. We have a good basis to continue with proportionate gambling reform, as outlined in the White Paper.”

She also stressed the value of the consistency provided by Civil Servants working at the DCMS describing the “huge amount of expertise” that’s in place.

Answering a question from the floor she stated: “Those people that you have had as a consistent contact with, who have been present throughout the previous debates and discussions that you have been having, remain” before adding: “I am clear that people have been waiting for things to proceed for some time and I know from Civil Servants that they have some things that have been ready to go for a long time.

“It would be wrong for me to not speak to those involved in the sector before proceeding but I am clear that this will not be years of conversation before we start outlining the direction of travel, that this is something that is my absolute priority as a new Government Minister.”

George McGregor, Bacta Executive Director (Government Relations) who attended the fringe event alongside Bacta President John Bollom was encouraged by both the content and the mood music. He said: “This was the first occasion that the Minister had spoken about the gambling brief. She was keen to outline the direction of travel and to take questions from the floor. Her reference points in terms of timelines were weeks and months and the feeling in the room was that we have a Minister who is both pragmatic and proportionate.”

He continued: “Baroness Twycross referenced the 84,000 people working in the sector and Bacta members should be encouraged by her repeating the Labour Government’s commitment to sustainable economic growth and for those employed in gambling to benefit from the wider changes that the government makes.

“Bacta’s contributions to the White Paper were all evidence-based and I am confident that our arguments including the commitments to safer gambling and our ability to contribute to the government’s growth agenda will resonate with the Minister. I am looking forward to developing further our social and economic case when we meet with Baroness Twycross on 3 October.”