Northern Ireland minister rules out major gambling law overhaul but review planned

The Northern Ireland Minister for Communities has indicated that a comprehensive overhaul of gambling legislation is not currently planned, but has committed to reviewing the effectiveness of reforms introduced under the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022.

Speaking during an Assembly debate on 29 September 2026, the Minister signalled that the Executive’s focus will remain on assessing the impact of the 2022 legislation rather than pursuing a wider programme of gambling law reform. According to the Department for Communities, the 2022 Act formed the first phase of a broader review of Northern Ireland’s gambling laws and introduced a range of changes, including new offences relating to under-18s using gaming machines, updated cheating offences and powers for the Department to issue gambling codes of practice.

The commitment to evaluate the effectiveness of the 2022 reforms may be significant for gambling operators and licensing stakeholders across Northern Ireland. The review is expected to consider whether the measures introduced have achieved their intended objectives, including strengthening consumer protections and addressing gambling-related harm.

The Minister’s comments are likely to disappoint those within the sector who have called for Northern Ireland to introduce a more comprehensive regulatory framework similar to that operating in Great Britain under the Gambling Act 2005. Northern Ireland’s gambling regime continues to be based primarily on the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Northern Ireland) Order 1985, albeit with amendments made by the 2022 Act.

For licensing and regulatory professionals, the announcement suggests that the immediate focus will be on evaluating existing reforms rather than introducing further substantive legislative change. Any future decisions on wider gambling reform are therefore likely to be informed by the findings of the planned review of the 2022 Act’s effectiveness.