Report: Stuart Andrew to become sixth minister to lead UK Gambling Act review

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The UK Gambling Act review will reportedly soon be led by Stuart Andrew MP as part of the government’s latest departmental adjustments, the sixth minister to oversee the review in the past two years.

According to the Racing Post, the MP for Pudsey, Horsforth and Aireborough in West Yorkshire will be confirmed by the government as the ministerial steward overseeing the Gambling Review and the imminent publishing of its white paper of recommendations. 

Andrew has worked as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Sport, Tourism, Heritage and Civil Society at the DCMS since September last year under current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the third UK Prime Minster since the Gambling Act review began in December 2020.

While Andrew hasn’t vocalised many opinions on gambling previously, he was criticised for accepting hospitality from Paddy Power worth £1,961 for England’s UEFA Euro 2020 game against Germany in 2021.

The review has been overseen by five other ministers over the past two years – Parliamentary-Under Secretaries Nigel Huddleston, John Whittingdale, Chris Philp, Damian Collins and Paul Scully.

Alongside four DCMS Secretaries – Oliver Dowden, Nadine Dorries, Michelle Donelan and Lucy Frazer – a total of 10 ministers have had oversight of the review.

An MP since 2010, Andrew has previously served as the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales as well as the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence Procurement under former Prime Minister Theresa May.

He also held four positions while Boris Johnson was Prime Minister – Vice-Chamberlain of the Household, Minister of State for Housing, Government Deputy Chief Whip Treasurer of the Household and Minister of State for Prisons and Probation.

After Frazer recently assumed DCMS leadership, the Gambling Act review can now resume again, with many officials hoping for the white paper to be published before the end of March.