Overnight vigil to secure UK POC bill slot

The UK Offshore Gambling bill proposed by West Suffolk MP Matthew Hancock has secured a second reading in the House of Commons and will reportedly be presented to the Speaker later today (Monday).

The Private Members’ Bill (under the Ten Minute Rule, SO No 23) seeks to amend the Gambling Act 2005 to regulate remote gambling on a point of consumption basis and will require all operators selling into the British market, whether in the United Kingdom or overseas, to hold a UK Gambling Commission licence.  Operators will also be required to contribute to the Horserace Betting Levy.

Apparently securing the slot for a second reading was a multi-party effort, with MPs Charlie Elphicke, Ben Gummer and Thomas Docherty, sleeping through the night in Parliament to ensure the bill received one of just 13 coveted slots for back-bench led legislation over the next year.

Hancock said: “It is great news for racing that the Offshore Gambling Bill has secured a slot for a Second Reading. The bill is now firmly on the path to becoming law, which can’t come soon enough for many of my constituents in Newmarket and the rest of the Horseracing industry.

“I am thrilled that with a cross-party team effort, we have been able to secure one of the 13 slots for backbench legislation this year. I am enormously grateful to Charlie, Ben and Thomas who slept through the night in Parliament to make this happen.”

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