Baroness Fiona Twycross steers the course of UK’s gambling sector

Jade Denosta August 7, 2024

Baroness Fiona Twycross was recently appointed as the new Minister for Gambling at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). She will oversee gambling issues and report directly to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy.

Baroness Twycross, who joined the House of Lords in November 2022, will also manage the DCMS business in the House of Lords. Stephanie Peacock, Labour MP for Barnsley South, will take on gambling matters in the House of Commons as part of her broader role in sport, media, civil society, and youth.

Baroness Twycross has urged DCMS sectors to contribute to the government’s goal of improving living standards and connecting communities across the UK. She said, “I am delighted to be part of a fabulous team supporting Lisa Nandy in the DCMS.”

The UK trade association Bacta has welcomed Baroness Twycross and invited her to speak at its Annual Convention on 28 November in Westminster. Bacta President John Bollom noted, “Whilst Baroness Twycross does not have a track record in gambling policy she is clearly smart and will likely be guided by the Labour Party Manifesto and Labour’s commitments in opposition to engage with the industry and complete the package of land-based gambling reforms contained in the White Paper. “We have already written to the new Minister, who previously served as a Deputy London Mayor to Sadiq Khan, seeking an early meeting and inviting her to speak at the Bacta Convention on 28 November. We look forward to forging a close and constructive relationship.”

Andrew Lee, COO at QiH Group, praised the appointment, emphasising that it shows the Labour government’s dedication to the gambling sector. He said, “Having a dedicated minister for gambling is crucial as we approach the implementation of the Gambling White Paper. We wish Baroness Twycross success and look forward to positive developments in the industry.”

£170B plan for UK culture and sports

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy unveiled a new strategy to harness the £170 billion (approximately €198.2 billion) culture, media, and sport sectors for national growth in her talk at a summit in Manchester on 31 July. Nandy outlined plans to boost opportunities and living standards across the UK by investing in grassroots sports and the creative industries. The event brought together over 150 key organisations, including Warner Bros., Amazon Prime Video, and the BBC. Nandy emphasised the sectors’ potential to drive economic renewal and highlighted recent government commitments, such as support for grassroots football and an independent football regulator. Leaders from various sectors expressed support for the government’s vision, underscoring the UK’s role as a global leader in creativity and culture. The summit marks the start of a series of nationwide engagements aimed at integrating these sectors into the government’s broader growth strategy.