Vicky Foxcroft has been confirmed as the new minister responsible for gambling, and will replace Baroness Twycross in the post in Andy Burnham’s new government.
Foxcroft, the MP for Lewisham North, previously served as Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of the Treasury between July 2024 and June 2025.
Burnham formed a new government in July after former PM Sir Keir Starmer stepped aside following mounting pressure from within Labour and the general public.
Burnham swung the scythe at his reshuffle, although the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) brief, under which gambling policy sits, was retained by Lisa Nandy.
Baroness Twycross, a Labour peer, served as the minister responsible for gambling in the Starmer government.
Upon Burnham’s ascension to Number 10, Baroness Twycross was also named parliamentary secretary in the Cabinet Office, while retain her gambling brief.
However, as per the government’s website, Foxcroft was named as parliamentary under-secretary of state within the DCMS on 22 July.
Foxcroft first became an MP in 2015 for the constituency of Lewisham, Deptford, which was replaced as part of the boundary changes implemented in 2024.
When in Opposition, Foxcroft served as a shadow minister in the DCMS with a focus on civil society. She also had a stint as the work and pensions shadow minister.
As per TheyWorkForYou, Foxcroft asked one question around the prevention of underage gambling in 2017 when the Tories were in government.
A November 2021 post on Foxcroft’s website related to the collapse of Football Index hinted at the MP’s stance.
She wrote: “More widely, I believe the law on gambling should be approached from a public health perspective to protect the vulnerable and particularly children and young people, but to allow others who choose to do so to gamble safely.
“We need fit-for-purpose, evidence-based regulation that is targeted effectively to reduce gambling-related harm, and that can keep up with the changing nature of gambling online.
“We must also ensure the right support is in place to tackle the highly serious matter of problem gambling.”
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Burnham announced the government would launch a consultation into ending the ‘aim to permit’ rule and require Adult Gaming Centres to seek planning permission.
The appointment of Foxcroft comes after the Gambling Commission secured the services of DCMS senior leader Sarah Fox on a secondment from the department.
Fox will oversee the Birmingham-based quango’s policy, research and stats function, as well as regulation of The National Lottery.
Grainne Hurst, Betting and Gaming Council CEO, said: “I would like to congratulate Vicky Foxcroft on her appointment as minister responsible for gambling.
“We look forward to working with her to champion Britain’s casinos, betting shops and online betting, gaming and bingo businesses – an industry that brings enjoyment to millions of people, sustains 109,000 jobs, contributes billions of pounds to the economy and provides vital funding for some of Britain’s best-loved sports.
“Following the extensive changes introduced through the white paper, it is vital that future policy is evidence-led, proportionate and fully considers the cumulative impact of regulation and recent tax increases on jobs, investment and the competitiveness of the regulated sector.
“We also look forward to working with the new minister to tackle the rapidly growing illegal gambling black market, which puts consumers at risk and contributes nothing to the economy or British sport.”
Hurst also paid tribute to the outgoing Baroness Twycross, citing her “genuine effort to understand our members”.
The trade body CEO added: “I would also like to offer my sincere thanks to Baroness Fiona Twycross for the thoughtful, open and constructive way she engaged with our industry throughout her time as minister responsible for gambling.”
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The post New gambling minister, who previously called for “evidence-based regulation”, confirmed first appeared on EGR Intel.
Vicky Foxcroft to take on brief and replace Baroness Twycross after the Labour peer was handed a new role in the Cabinet Office as part of new PM Andy Burnham’s reshuffle
The post New gambling minister, who previously called for “evidence-based regulation”, confirmed first appeared on EGR Intel.