Vicky Foxcroft MP has been appointed as the new parliamentary under-secretary of state for Museums, Heritage, Gambling, and Lords minister, overseeing the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). She succeeds Baroness Twycross, who held the position until 2024.
A Member of Parliament since 2015, Foxcroft previously served as the shadow minister for DCMS in 2019, where she supported numerous gambling reform initiatives.
The MP for Lewisham North is known for her advocacy regarding gambling issues, including a notable early day motion on high street gambling reform presented in June 2025. This motion raised alarms about the inadequacies in regulating the proliferation of gambling establishments and highlighted the challenges that local councils face in limiting new gambling venue applications in areas with high concentrations of such premises, acknowledging gambling as a public health concern.
Just days prior to Foxcroft's appointment, Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced a policy change regarding the "aim to permit" rule for local authorities, which included new strategies for managing betting and vape shops.
Foxcroft has publicly addressed the issue of what she described as the "epidemic of problem gambling." In 2018, she urged the government to prohibit betting with credit cards and proposed that banks be allowed to restrict problem gamblers from making online betting transactions.
She has also voiced her support for banning gambling advertisements during live sports events, as well as for the 1% statutory levy implemented in November 2024. This levy mandates that license holders contribute between 0.2% and 1.1% of their annual gross gaming yield (GGY) to research and initiatives aimed at preventing gambling-related harms, and it was a key aspect of the Gambling Act review white paper.
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) welcomed Foxcroft's appointment on Wednesday, commending her past commitment to a balanced and evidence-based approach to gambling regulation. The organization emphasized the importance of protecting vulnerable populations, particularly children and young people, while allowing for safe adult gambling.
The BGC expressed its intent to engage productively with the new minister regarding regulation that is effectively targeted. CEO Grainne Hurst stated that they look forward to collaborating with Foxcroft to combat the growing illegal gambling market, which poses risks to consumers and does not contribute to the economy or British sports.
Hurst underscored the industry's call for regulations that are proportionate and take into account the combined effects of recent regulatory changes and tax increases on employment, investments, and the competitiveness of the regulated market.
Hurst also acknowledged the contributions of Foxcroft's predecessor, Baroness Twycross, thanking her for her constructive approach during her tenure, particularly in relation to the government's gambling white paper and the introduction of financial risk assessments (FRAs).
