Consultation on the proposed merger of the Gambling Commission and the National Lottery Commission
Consultation on the proposed merger of the Gambling Commission and the National Lottery Commission, under the provisions of the Public Bodies Act 2011.
The government has committed to increasing the accountability and reducing the number and cost of public bodies. Merging the Gambling Commission (GC) and National Lottery Commission (NLC) will help achieve this aim while preserving the appropriate and effective regulation of gambling and the National Lottery and delivering other organisational benefits.
A provision to merge the 2 bodies was therefore included in the Public Bodies Bill which received Royal Assent in December 2011.
The creation of a single regulator should ensure that regulation continues to protect the public, particularly in light of rapid change and innovation in the overall gambling market, while allowing regulated sectors to flourish in order to deliver the public benefits outlined above.
The government is now seeking to use the powers in the Public Bodies Act 2011 to put in place the merger of the 2 bodies by abolishing the NLC and transferring its powers to the GC. Ministers are required under the 2011 to consult on their proposals before laying draft legislation.
Comments are therefore invited on the government’s approach as set out in the consultation document. An impact assessment of the proposed approach is also being published.