UK Government Unveils New Gambling Bill

by Robin Pilgrim, for LawAndTax-News.com, London

21 October 2004

The UK government on Tuesday unveiled its plans for the first major shake-up of the country's gambling laws in 40 years.

Unveiling the new measures, Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport, Tessa Jowell, explained that: "It is nearly 40 years since Parliament last had the opportunity to take a serious look at our gambling laws and it's not just attitudes that have changed since then. The technological revolution has touched all our lives and the gambling industry is no exception."

"Internet gambling and roulette machines in bookmakers are just two examples of where laws introduced nearly 10 years before the first home computer hit the shelves are no longer able to protect children or vulnerable people properly."

She went on to add: "In the face of this, new protections are vital. Levels of problem gambling are low in Britain and I am totally committed to keeping it that way. That's why the Bill is so important. With a powerful new Gambling Commission policing these rules I'm confident the UK will become the safest gambling environment in the world."

In terms of liberalising measures contained in the legislation, which observers predict could be in place by summer 2005, the requirement for registration 24 hours prior to attendance at a casino will be abolished, the "permitted areas" rule governing where casinos can be built will be removed, and gambling establishments will be permitted to advertise in a limited way. Casinos above a certain size will also be permitted to offer unlimited jackpots.

However, the Gambling Bill also contains increased protections and restrictions, including tighter regulation of internet betting exchanges (in terms of obligations to verify the age of their customers), the introduction of criminal charges for those who invite, permit or cause a child to gamble, the introduction of new powers to allow local authorities to limit the number of casinos granted licences in their area, and the creation of a research trust funded by the industry into the causes and treatments of problem gambling.

The Bill also enables the creation of the Gambling Commission, which will regulate the newly liberalised industry.

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