Vicky Foxcroft MP has officially stepped into the role of the UK minister overseeing gambling, as the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) seeks immediate discussions regarding the affordability checks set to be introduced in 2027. This comes as the betting industry evaluates the potential impact of her history with gambling reform.
Foxcroft, who has represented Lewisham North in Parliament since 2015, has been appointed as the parliamentary under-secretary of state for Museums, Heritage, Gambling, and Lords minister at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. She takes over from Baroness Fiona Twycross and will also oversee matters related to horseracing.
The BHA has expressed its desire for a prompt dialogue with Foxcroft following the Gambling Commission's recent confirmation that affordability checks, also referred to as financial risk assessments, will be implemented in 2027. The governing body has previously criticized the government for shifting the responsibility of this policy onto the regulator.
A spokesperson for the BHA stated, “We are eager to collaborate with Vicky Foxcroft MP now that her appointment as gambling minister has been confirmed. Our goal is to engage with the ministerial team at the DCMS to advocate for Britain’s second-largest sport.”
They further emphasized the need for an urgent discussion to make Foxcroft aware of their concerns regarding the Gambling Commission's announcement about the affordability checks.
While Foxcroft has not publicly stated many positions on horseracing, she has shown support for a World Horse Welfare campaign opposing horse tethering and has previously advocated for high standards in equine welfare.
Her stance on gambling, however, is more pronounced. Foxcroft has endorsed reducing fixed-odds betting terminal stakes to £2 per spin, supported a ban on gambling advertisements during live sports, and has called for problem gambling to be treated as a public health crisis. She has also previously advocated for a ban on credit card gambling and for banks to have the authority to block online gambling transactions for individuals struggling with gambling issues.
In 2025, Foxcroft was one of 31 MPs who signed an early day motion contesting the “aim to permit” rule, which restricted councils from denying applications for new gambling establishments. Recently, Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced intentions to abolish this rule, granting local authorities more power to refuse new betting shops and gambling venues.
Additionally, Foxcroft supported the statutory gambling levy introduced in November 2024, requiring license holders to contribute between 0.2% and 1.1% of their annual gross gambling yield towards research and prevention of gambling-related harm.
The Betting and Gaming Council welcomed her new role but urged the government to consider the cumulative effects of regulation and recent tax hikes.
BGC Chief Executive Grainne Hurst remarked, “We are also looking forward to collaborating with the new Minister to address the rapidly expanding illegal gambling black market, which poses risks to consumers and offers no benefits to the economy or British sports.”
Twycross, Foxcroft’s predecessor, was responsible for implementing the government’s gambling white paper and the financial risk assessments.