UK Gambling Commission gets into the POC groove
News on 8 Oct 2013
News on 8 Oct 2013
The UK Gambling Commission has started its consultation phase on the red tape necessary for the proposed introduction of secondary licensing and taxation based on the point-of-consumption concept in online gambling .
Starting next year, internet gambling operators wishing to access the UK punter will have to obtain secondary licensing and pay taxes to the UK government.
The Commission’s “remote operating licence application review” is a consultation document setting out the regulator’s proposals to improve the application process and information requirements for remote operating licence applications.
It seeks the views of interested parties on those changes, in particular the proposal to adopt the Multi Jurisdictional Business Form (MJBF), as part of the application process.
Check out the Commission’s intentions here:
http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/research__consultations/consultations/open_consultations/remote_operating_licence_appli.aspx
The Commission recognises the need to exchange information with other gambling regulators and foster greater administrative co-operation, it says, claiming that the standardisation of the types of information required by gambling regulators would go a long way to reducing the burden on operators applying to multiple jurisdictions of having to revisit or re-present information already provided.
Subject to this consultation, the Commission intends to adopt the Multi Jurisdictional Business Form (MJBF) being developed under the auspices of the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR).
The MJBF will become an integral part of the application process and, together with a Jurisdictional Rider that contains information requirements specific to the UK licensing regime, will be the basis for remote operating licence applications.
The Commission has simplified contributing to the consultation by providing a template for responses that leaves space for answers to all the questions asked in the consultation, but respondents who wish to confine their responses to their own areas of interest can also submit statements to consultation@gamblingcommission.gov.uk by Monday 28 October 2013.
The Commission has clearly put a lot of thought into the documents, which can be found on their website, along with proposed application information.
A large number of applicants is expected. The timetable for the introduction of the new application process and information requirements will mirror the timetable for acceptance of applications following the introduction of the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Bill, currently expected in early 2014.
