What is the unlicensed sector doing right?

There are a few regulated markets that are in a state of flux right now but few are treading quite such a tricky political tightrope as the UK.

When a former Prime Minister comes out in favour of increased taxes on the sector, resulting in 100 MPs lobbying the Chancellor to follow his suggestion, you know that the industry is in a precarious situation.

It is at times like this when it is absolutely essential for all industry stakeholders to come together, bounce ideas off one another and come up with strategies that will allow this dynamic industry to continue to thrive. The EGR London Summit 2025 could not be better timed with the government’s November budget just around the corner.

Taking place at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London’s Covent Garden on October 22, this year’s event will welcome a host of industry experts to explore the path forward for the gaming sector in the UK, diving into the shifting regulatory and technological landscape.

As chair, my job will be made easy by the quality of speakers taking the stage throughout the day.

Taking on the important job of setting the scene, our opening panel will be reviewing the year that has been in the UK in terms of regulatory shifts and industry reactions. From increased controls to consumers on limits and marketing preferences to bans on mixed promotions, our expert line up of Better Change’s Anna Davies, Betsmart Consulting’s Kirsty Caldwell, Regulus Partner’s Dan Waugh, Harris Hagan’s Jessica Wilson and BGC’s Alex Roberts will tackle the key conversations around the future of gambling in the UK.

Following this, we will dive into the murky world of the research, education and treatment levy. There has been a lot of misunderstanding about this admittedly-complex topic but there are few subjects that require cross-industry collaboration quite so urgently. I would urge you all to come along and show your support for a sector that has often been the industry’s sole source of good news but is now in danger of being put out of business by the funding gap that the levy is yet to fill.

Here at EGR we know that expertise in the room extends beyond the speaker panel. For this reason, we hold our roundtable discussion sessions to let insights, opinions and debates flow between all attendees.

There has been a lot of talk about the black market over the past year – a lot of talk – but we thought we’d flip the script and find out the things that the unlicensed sector is doing right. What can we learn from them? Should this even be a case of us and them? Most of the panelists and many of the attendees will remember working in pre-regulated markets. What has been lost along the journey from unregulated to regulated and what can be regained? Our first roundtable invites everyone to explore this in depth.

Our second roundtable tackles the somewhat politically charged position of DEI and ESG across the industry. In a climate that has seen push back on both of these corporate priorities, where does the gambling industry sit within this debate? How is the sector continuing to strive for improvements in these areas, and how can those leading the charge ensure company buy-in at scale?

In the afternoon, we will enter into the world of AI and explore in depth how the industry is embracing this technology. Both pros and cons are on the table, with debates around the ethics and safety measures in place, and a look at consumer perceptions on this ever-evolving tool. In addition to this, we take a look at the importance of seamless interactions and ‘invisible compliance’, as well as explore the complicated future plans for financial risk checks in the UK.

So let’s come together, get inspired and navigate this ship out of the choppy waters that are threatening to engulf this industry. Register here.