Crynodeb
The principal statute governing gambling in England & Wales and Scotland. It established the Gambling Commission as the unified regulator, replacing a patchwork of earlier legislation. The Act regulates casinos, betting, bingo, gaming machines, lotteries, and remote (online) gambling. It is built on three licensing objectives: preventing gambling from being a source of crime, ensuring it is fair, and protecting children and vulnerable persons.
Pwyntiau allweddol
- Established the Gambling Commission
- Three licensing objectives (crime, fairness, vulnerable persons)
- Operating licences required for all gambling operators
- Premises licences for physical gambling venues
- Remote gambling regulation for online operators
- Self-exclusion schemes (GAMSTOP)
- Establishes the Gambling Commission as the regulator with powers to grant, review, suspend, and revoke licences (Part 2)
- Three licensing objectives: preventing crime/disorder, ensuring fairness, and protecting children and vulnerable persons (s.1)
- Operating licences required for all gambling operators; personal licences for key personnel (Parts 5-6)
- Premises licences required for physical gambling venues, granted by local licensing authorities (Part 8)
- Regulates remote gambling — online operators targeting British consumers must hold a licence (as amended by Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act 2014)
- Defines and regulates gaming machines by category (A-D) with different stake and prize limits (Part 10)
- Lotteries regulated under Part 11 — societies may run lotteries subject to registration and limits on proceeds
- Criminal offences for providing facilities for gambling without a licence (s.33), cheating at gambling (s.42), and using premises for unlicensed gambling
- Three licensing objectives: preventing gambling as a source of crime/disorder, ensuring gambling is fair and open, protecting children and vulnerable persons (s.1)
- Gambling Commission as regulator (Part 2)
- Operating licences for commercial gambling operators (Part 5)
- Personal licences for key personnel (Part 6)
- Premises licences issued by local authorities (Part 8)
- Remote gambling regulation — applies to operators serving GB customers regardless of location (Part 4)
- Offences including provision of unlicensed facilities for gambling (ss.33–36)
Rhannau ac adrannau
Hanes diwygiadau
2014 — Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act 2014
Required all remote gambling operators serving British consumers to hold a Gambling Commission licence.
2014 — Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act 2014
Required all remote gambling operators serving British consumers to hold a Gambling Commission licence, regardless of location.
2023 — Gambling Act Review White Paper
Government proposals for reform including a statutory levy on operators, online stake limits, enhanced age verification, and an ombudsman for gambling disputes (legislation pending).