Michelle Donelan has consistently been a critic of the sector – what will her next action be?
Donelan was appointed as the head of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) just two days after being appointed as the Education Secretary, making her the shortest-serving cabinet minister in the history of the British Parliament. Donelan was known for her criticism of the sector during her time as Education Secretary, supporting limitations on fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) and supporting restrictions on gambling advertising. What will her next action be in the context of the Gambling Act review?
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Donelan has consistently been a critic of the sector – what will her next action be?
Finally, the months-long stalemate in the British government, resulting from Boris Johnson’s resignation, has come to an end.
Liz Truss dominated the latter half of the campaign, ultimately achieving greater success among party members, though her victory was closer than some had predicted.
The winner takes the spoils – now, the gears and cogs of the British policymaking machine are in her hands, and the reshuffle has yielded new roles who will be participating in the upcoming battles as leaders of the United Kingdom. The cabinet is more diverse and leans further to the right than Johnson’s cabinet.
Entering the legislative body in 2015, Donalyn has been a steadfast advocate for the ruling party, adhering to its guidelines and rarely expressing dissent. Now, she has finally ascended to a position of authority, capable of issuing directives instead of receiving them.
The Authentic Donalyn
This newly appointed official has a strong passion for education, so information regarding her perspectives on the gaming sector is relatively limited. However, she has addressed the topic twice in parliamentary records, both instances indicating her opposition to the industry. These remarks were made on two occasions in 2018, when the minister associated with the relevant department was questioned in Parliament.
The first instance occurred on May 17, 2018, when Tracey Crouch, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Sport and Civil Society at the DCMS, declared that the wager limit on fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) would be reduced from £100 to £2. In response to the minister’s announcement, Donalyn criticized the apparent surge in gambling advertising.
She stated, “I wholeheartedly welcome this declaration, which addresses a problem that has afflicted numerous lives. I understand that advertising is subject to regulations, but we have all witnessed the significant increase in gambling advertising online and on television, which are exploiting vulnerable individuals. What further actions can we take to address this issue?”
Crouch would ultimately resign later that year in November after declaring that the FOBT wager limit legislation would be postponed until October 2019.
On June 21st, 2018, Donelan publicly criticized the then-Minister of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Matt Hancock, for the department’s efforts to curb problem gambling in the United Kingdom.
Donelan asserted, “As the Secretary of State is aware, I strongly endorse the decision on fixed-odds betting terminals, but problem gambling is a significant issue in my district, particularly among susceptible individuals.”
“What additional steps can the department take to encourage gambling businesses to provide more effective assistance to those struggling with addiction?”
**Outcome**
Donelan is a prominent figure in the long-delayed gambling legislation review white paper, which will guide future legislative changes. However, the contents and release date of the white paper remain unclear.
While the white paper was initially scheduled for release this summer and was postponed after Johnson’s resignation, it is widely anticipated to be further delayed, potentially until after the holiday season.
The new Prime Minister, Liz Truss, will confront a social and economic crisis as winter approaches. Truss urged the nation to “overcome this” in her inaugural address as Prime Minister, as the country prepares for an energy crisis and an uncertain economic outlook. It is widely believed that this will be the government’s top priority – gambling reform will likely be put on hold once again.
Damian Collins, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, is currently the junior minister responsible for gambling.
Following the restructuring, Collins will remain in his position until September 7th. However, a DCMS representative declined to confirm if the status quo will persist, stating that the ministerial leadership “will be announced shortly.”
It’s unclear what this implies for the future. But the competition is underway, and we’ll have to observe how it unfolds.
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