Queen Announces New UK Gambling Bill

The British government will require offshore gambling operators to be licensed by the Gambling Commission in order to serve British consumers, under a bill announced by Queen Elizabeth II at the state opening of parliament in London last week.

New gambling bill

If passed, the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Bill amends the Gambling Act 2005 to add the requirement that all offshore gambling operators offering their services to British consumers apply for a licence from the Gambling Commission, regardless of where in the world their operations are based.

In addition, the government-sponsored bill would force anyone with a British license to inform local authorities of suspicious betting patterns in an attempt to tackle corruption and problem gambling. Operators will have to contribute to research, education and treatment on British problem gambling and child protection.

Gov’t aims to change

Government ministers believe the bill will increase protection for British consumers by holding all remote gambling operators to the same robust and consistent regulation and requiring them to fight against corruption and illegal activity, in the same way as it is currently able to enforce this in regard to local operators.

The Gambling Act’s three main objectives will remain: Preventing gambling from being a source of crime or disorder; ensuring that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way; and protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling.