BHA Seeks Urgent Talks with New Gambling Minister Vicky Foxcroft

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) will seek urgent discussions with newly appointed UK gambling minister Vicky Foxcroft MP regarding the implementation of affordability checks. Foxcroft’s appointment follows a change in roles at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

What Happened

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has announced its intention to pursue urgent talks with Vicky Foxcroft MP, the new gambling minister, concerning the application of affordability checks, also known as financial risk assessments. This development follows the confirmation of Foxcroft’s appointment to the role, where she is set to succeed Baroness Twycross, according to Racing Post. Foxcroft will also assume responsibility for horseracing within her new portfolio.

The BHA has previously criticized the government for delegating the introduction of these affordability checks to the Gambling Commission, as reported by Racing Post. A spokesperson for the governing body stated, “We look forward to working with Vicky Foxcroft MP following confirmation of her appointment as gambling minister.” The spokesperson added that the BHA intends to continue engaging with the ministerial team at the DCMS to support Britain’s second-largest sport, and is seeking an urgent discussion to convey its concerns regarding the Gambling Commission’s decision to proceed with implementing affordability checks in 2027, according to Racing Post.

Key Details

• Vicky Foxcroft MP has been appointed as the new UK gambling minister, taking over from Baroness Twycross, as reported by Racing Post and CDC Gaming.
• The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) aims to hold urgent talks with Minister Foxcroft regarding the implementation of affordability checks, according to Racing Post.
• Minister Foxcroft has previously expressed support for a ban on gambling advertising in live sport and has described problem gambling as a ‘public emergency’, as noted by Racing Post and Sky Sports.
• The BHA has raised concerns about the Gambling Commission’s plan to proceed with affordability checks in 2027, according to Racing Post.
• Foxcroft joined the DCMS as a junior minister in July, following Andy Burnham becoming prime minister, as reported by Racing Post.

Why It Matters

The appointment of Vicky Foxcroft as gambling minister, alongside the BHA’s immediate request for urgent talks, signals continued scrutiny and potential adjustments to regulatory frameworks within the UK’s gambling sector. The BHA has previously accused the government of abdicating responsibility for the introduction of affordability checks to the Gambling Commission, according to Racing Post. This engagement with the new minister is crucial for horseracing, which is described as Britain’s second-largest sport by a BHA spokesperson, according to Racing Post.

Minister Foxcroft’s past statements, including her support for a ban on gambling advertising in live sport and her characterization of problem gambling as a “public emergency,” indicate a potential shift in policy emphasis. Her signing of an early day motion voicing concern about local authorities’ ability to prevent the spread of gambling premises due to the “aim to permit” rule and her support for reducing maximum stakes on fixed odds betting terminals to £2 per spin in 2018, as reported by Racing Post, suggest a focus on stricter regulatory control. The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has stated it looks forward to “working constructively” with the new minister, emphasizing the need for future policy to be “evidence-led, proportionate and fully considers the cumulative impact of regulation,” according to Gamblingnews.com.

What’s Next

The BHA plans to continue engaging with the ministerial team at the DCMS and seeks an urgent discussion with Minister Foxcroft regarding its concerns over the implementation of affordability checks in 2027, according to Racing Post. The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) also anticipates working with Minister Foxcroft on policies that are evidence-led and proportionate, and address issues such as the illegal gambling black market, as stated by their chief executive Grainne Hurst, according to Gamblingnews.com.

Originally reported by Racing Post·Published 12 Aug 2026, 12:27