Vicky Foxcroft appointed as new Gambling Minister

Vicky Foxcroft MP has been appointed as the parliamentary under-secretary of state for Museums, Heritage, Gambling and Lords minister with oversight of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Foxcroft replaces Baroness Twycross, who took on the role in 2024.

An MP since 2015, Foxcroft has a track record of supporting strict gambling reform measures. She acted as shadow minister overseeing DCMS in 2019, during which time she backed various regulatory tightening proposals that could signal the direction of future policy under her tenure.

Track Record on Gambling Reform

Foxcroft notably supported an early day motion on “high street gambling reform” tabled in June 2025. The motion raised concerns over the “lack of sufficient powers to regulate the spread of gambling premises due to the statutory aim to permit” and questioned restrictions on councils’ ability to reject applications for new gambling venues in saturated communities, recognising gambling as a “public health issue”.

Days before Foxcroft’s appointment, Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced a reversal of the “aim to permit” rule for councils, introducing new measures to target betting and vape shops. The timing suggests alignment between the new minister’s previous positions and current government policy direction.

The incoming minister has previously spoken out on what she describes as the “epidemic of problem gambling”. In 2018, she called on the government to ban betting using credit cards and to allow banks to prohibit problem gamblers from gambling through online transactions. She has also expressed support for banning gambling ads within live sport and backed the 1% statutory levy, which was implemented in November 2024.

Industry Response

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) welcomed Foxcroft to her new role on Wednesday. The organisation praised her previous advocacy for a “balanced, evidence-led approach to gambling regulation” that safeguards vulnerable groups, particularly children and young people, while allowing adults to gamble safely.

Grainne Hurst, CEO of BGC, said: “We also look forward to working with the new minister to tackle the rapidly growing illegal gambling black market, which puts consumers at risk and contributes nothing to the economy or British sport.”

Hurst emphasised the industry’s desire for policies that are “proportionate” and “fully consider the cumulative impact of regulation and recent tax increases on jobs, investment and the competitiveness of the regulated sector”.

What Operators Can Expect

The BGC highlighted Foxcroft’s support for regulation that is “properly targeted and fit for purpose”, suggesting the industry body sees potential for constructive dialogue despite the minister’s reform-minded history.

In her reaction to Foxcroft’s appointment, Hurst thanked Baroness Twycross for “the thoughtful, open and constructive way she engaged with our industry throughout her time as minister responsible for gambling”. Twycross was responsible for bringing in the government’s gambling white paper and oversaw the implementation of financial risk assessments.