There is a new Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS), the organisation in charge of leading the nation’s gambling reform, now that Liz Truss has formally attained the position of the prime minister of the United Kingdom. However, this does not imply that change will occur rapidly.
Michelle Donelan takes on the position following roles in the government supervising education. From September 2021 to July 2022, she served as the Minister of State for Higher and Further Education. Then, for what might be the shortest tenure in history, Donelan was appointed Secretary of State for Education.
As Zahawi’s successor as Secretary of State for Education, Donelan served for just two days before leaving on July 7. Following the crisis caused by the former prime minister Boris Johnson, the seven-year veteran MP and 50 or more other ministers resigned. Donelan is a fervent advocate for gaming reform and had worked in the marketing division of World Wrestling Entertainment. In an earlier statement, she claimed that gambling preys on the weak and had destroyed far too many lives.
Nadine Dorries, the previous secretary of the DCMS, left just before Truss took over. From September 2021 to July 5, 2022, the latter role was held by YouGov cofounder Nadhim Zahawi. He resigned after Rishi Sunak left the office and he was named Exchequer Chancellor. The former front-runner for the position of UK prime minister was Sunak.
Moving forward, Donelan will work with a nearly entirely new ministerial cabinet. No white male is now holding one of the top four government roles, including prime minister, chancellor, home secretary, or foreign secretary, for the first time in the UK’s history. In a nation where more than 78% of people identify as white, that is a momentous moment.
The UK has been working on gambling reform for a while. The last white paper on the subject was scheduled to be released this month, but that was before the administration started to disintegrate. Gambling reform continues to be a top priority as Truss works to organise the household. The paper might once more take precedence given Donelan’s gambling interests.
Without delay, the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) welcomed Donelan back into the political fold. According to a BGC statement, CEO Michael Dugher congratulated her on the job and said it was “well-deserved.”
Donelan was reminded by Dugher that the group, which represents the great bulk of offline and internet gambling in the UK, was instrumental in enacting gambling reform. He emphasised how the BGC and DCMS worked together to influence policy. He expects to have the same relationship with the new DCMS leader going forward.
Additionally, Donelan received greetings from the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Gambling Related Harm. On Twitter, it was stated that there had been enough inaction about gaming reform and that it was past due to take action. Over the coming days, Donelan will be widely watched by the gaming industry. They will find out what she has planned when she gets used to her new role.