Regulatory Timeline: Gambling
Published on 25th Feb 2015
“After last year’s introduction of the biggest regulatory changes for ten years, the main compliance challenge the gambling industry faces now is getting to grips with the new regime.”
31 March 2015 – Regulations on the payment of Horserace Betting Levy by holders of remote operating licences
The new Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act 2014 (GLAA) came into force in November 2014. Section 2 of the GLAA gives the Secretary of State power to make regulations to ensure that there is a level playing field between British-based and offshore remote gambling operators that take bets on British horseracing in respect of their contribution to the Horserace Betting Levy.
The DCMS’s 2014 consultation set a milestone for implementing this legislation at 31 March 2015. However, no regulations extending the levy will be made without prior clearance from the European Commission. As a result, implementation could be pushed back until 2016.
30 April 2015 – Northern Ireland lotteries law reform
Northern Ireland’s gambling law regime is due to be updated, with draft legislation long expected to be put forward to Northern Ireland’s Assembly prior to the General Election in May 2015. The changes will align gambling regulation in Northern Ireland (largely governed by the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements [Northern Ireland] Order 1985) more closely with that in the rest of the UK, where the Gambling Act 2005 applies.
Marketers are likely to welcome the proposed changes to the laws surrounding prize draws, which are expected to include the removal of the requirement for a free entry route where entry to a prize draw requires the purchase of a product at its normal price.
31 December 2015 – Removal of various Gambling Act 2005 restrictions on incidental non-commercial lotteries
In April 2014, the consultation period closed on DCMS’s proposals to lift various restrictions in the Gambling Act 2005 which “unnecessarily” prevented certain exempt lotteries from raising money for charities and other good causes. These were mainly private society, work and residents’ lotteries. DCMS proposed to scrap the rule that these could only be held at non-commercial events. Another suggestion was to drop the requirement that the results of such lotteries could only be announced during the event.
The DCMS’s response following the consultation is expected during 2015.
