UK Gambling Commission releases draft remote gambling bill

The much anticipated proposal from the UK Gambling Commission on switching the British remote gambling scene to a Point of Consumption structure was released Monday.

The draft legislation’s key issues published on the UK Gambling Commission’s website include:

– Protects British-based users of remote gambling services which include online bingo, casino websites and telephone betting.

– Remote gambling by consumers living in Britain will be regulated on a point of consumption basis.

– All operators, local and overseas, selling into the British market will be required to hold a Gambling Commission licence.

– Overseas operators will be required to inform the Gambling Commission about suspicious betting patterns involving British customers.

– Overseas-based operators will be required to pay and contribute to research, education and treatment in relation to British problem gambling and regulatory costs.

Minister for Sport & Tourism, Hugh Robertson, said: “These proposals will ensure that British consumers enjoy consistent standards of protection, regardless of where a gambling business is based, and will also help the fight against illegal activity and corruption in sports betting.”

Chairman of the Gambling Commission, Philip Graf said: “We welcome the proposed changes as currently we regulate less than 20 percent of online gambling by British consumers and cannot insist on overseas operators providing us with information about suspicious sports betting transactions.”

Going forward the draft Bill will now undergo a period of pre-legislative scrutiny by the Culture, Media & Sport Select Committee. The Gambling Commission hopes that the Bill will be introduced in the third session, Parliamentary time allowing.

The full draft proposal can be accessed here: http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm84/8497/8497.pdf