Gambling Commission: Difference between revisions
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=== Aims and objectives === |
=== Aims and objectives === |
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The Commission's stated aims are "to keep crime out of gambling, to ensure that gambling is conducted fairly and openly, and to protect children and vulnerable people". However, critics note its ADR process and default non-disclosure of complaints as often part of "standard procedure" contrasts directly with the validity of this claimed remit.<ref name="what">[http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/UploadDocs/Contents/Documents/Whatitis.pdf The Gambling Commission: What it is and what it does] (PDF)]</ref> |
The Commission's stated aims are "to keep crime out of gambling, to ensure that gambling is conducted fairly and openly, and to protect children and vulnerable people". However, critics note its ADR process and default non-disclosure of complaints as often part of "standard procedure" contrasts directly with the validity of this claimed remit.<ref name="what">[http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/UploadDocs/Contents/Documents/Whatitis.pdf The Gambling Commission: What it is and what it does] (PDF)]</ref> |
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The Commission released a new 2018/19 business plan with the goals of improving industry standards, consumer protections and to further public protection from gambling related harm.<ref>{{cite news|title=Gambling Commission Business Plan 2018-2019|url=http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/PDF/Business-plan-2018-2019.pdf |accessdate=4 May 2018}}</ref> <ref>{{cite news|title=UKGC Announces 2019 Plan to Improve Industry Standards|url=https://www.casinoreviews.co.uk/news/industry/ukgc-announces-2019-plan-improve-industry-standards.html |date=2 May 2018 |accessdate=4 May 2018}}</ref> |
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=== Licensing === |
=== Licensing === |
Revision as of 13:18, 4 May 2018
This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2017) |
![]() Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom as used by HM Government | |
Agency overview | |
---|---|
Formed | 1 September 2007 |
Preceding agency | |
Type | Executive non-departmental public body |
Jurisdiction | Great Britain |
Headquarters | Victoria Square House, Victoria Square, Birmingham, B2 4BP |
Motto | Keeping gambling fair and safe for all |
Employees | 280 employees |
Minister responsible | |
Agency executives |
|
Parent department | Department for Culture, Media and Sport |
Website | gamblingcommission |
Map | |
![]() Great Britain in the UK and Europe |
The Gambling Commission is an executive non-departmental public body of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for regulating gambling and supervising gaming law in Great Britain (its jurisdiction does not extend to Northern Ireland.) On 1 October 2013 it assumed responsibility for regulating the National Lottery. However, the Gambling Commission is not responsible for granting planning permission for bookmakers shops on the high street – such decisions are made by the local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales, and the regulation of spread betting is the responsibility of the Financial Conduct Authority.
History
The Gambling Commission was established under the Gambling Act 2005 and assumed full powers in 2007, taking over responsibility from the Gaming Board for Great Britain, in regulating arcades, betting, bingo, casinos, slot machines and lotteries, but not spread betting (regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority).[1][2] The Commission is a non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.[3]
It is also responsible for the remote gambling which includes betting online, by telephone and other communication devices using the equipment, based on the territory of Great Britain.[citation needed]
On 1 October 2013 the National Lottery Commission, which regulated the National Lottery, became part of the Gambling Commission.[4][5]
Responsibilities
Aims and objectives
The Commission's stated aims are "to keep crime out of gambling, to ensure that gambling is conducted fairly and openly, and to protect children and vulnerable people". However, critics note its ADR process and default non-disclosure of complaints as often part of "standard procedure" contrasts directly with the validity of this claimed remit.[6]
The Commission released a new 2018/19 business plan with the goals of improving industry standards, consumer protections and to further public protection from gambling related harm.[7] [8]
Licensing
The Commission issues licences to gambling operators, can levy fines and revoke licences, and is tasked with investigating and prosecuting illegal gambling. It is also responsible for advising national and local government on gambling-related issues.[6]
Remote gambling
For remote gambling, the Commission issues licences to those operators whose remote gambling equipment is located in the territory of Great Britain. Whilst, those operators who wish to advertise their services in England, Wales, or Scotland, but are based outside the country, have to obtain a licence from the Gambling Commission following the passage of the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act 2014. The 2014 Act changed the licensing requirements so that any company wishing to advertise gambling and take bets from consumers in England, Wales, or Scotland must hold a licence issued by the Gambling Commission. Previously, an operator in one of the whitelisted gambling jurisdictions could advertise their services in Great Britain without requiring a separate license from the Commission.[6][9][10][11] The proposals were opposed by the gambling industry, including the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association.[12]
Monitoring and regulation
The list of responsibilities of the Gambling Commission includes work to ensure that licensees act in accordance with the requirements imposed by the Gambling Act 2005 and other related regulations and standards. The Commission has the right to visit its licensees and examine their financial activities. As a result of this examination, specialists from the Gambling Commission can issue recommendations for amendments. Apart from such advice, supplementary licence conditions can be set or removed. In some cases, the Commission may take action to correct or avoid certain misconducts.[13]
Apart from reviewing the activities of the licensed operators, the Commission is authorised to take regulatory actions against those licensees who breach the rules in some way. The range of actions that may need to be taken varies from issuing a warning to inflicting a fine on those who violate licence conditions. In situations where additional investigation is required, the licence can be revoked.[citation needed]
The Intelligence department of the Gambling Commission collects information about the illegal activities related to their field and conducts preliminary investigation to build a picture of the situation and inform senior management.They also collaborate with other UK organisations and the police in cases where suspicious betting or gambling activities are detected.[14]
The list of operators and personal licence holders who have had a regulatory sanction imposed on them is published on the site of the Gambling Commission.[15]
Notable Actions
In February 2018, the Gambling Commission fined British bookmaker William Hill £6.2 million for not protecting players after a series of systematic failures to prevent money laundering.[16] [17]
Criticisms
The Gambling Commission has come under fire for not preventing the spread of Fixed odds betting terminals on the high street. Their spread is linked to the transfer of responsibility for planning permission for bookmakers moving from the Gambling Commission to local authorities.[citation needed]
In 2014 the UK regulated online bookmaker Canbet went into receivership owing millions to customers. The demise of this site raised questions of the ability of the Commission to protect UK customers from rogue traders, although overall responsibility for UK online regulation was only given to the UKGC in November 2014.[18]
In September 2014, UK regulated online bookmaker BetButler closed down, leaving a message on its website reading "The Board of BetButler Limited has been approached by a third party regulated gaming business to acquire the customer database, including all balances and pending withdrawal requests, of the business. This process will take some days to complete." Concerns were raised about pay out times and their financial state many months before this appeared. Again, the Gambling Commission have been criticised.[19]
The UK Gambling Commission came under fire in November 2017 following the Loot box scandal, which took off prior to the release of EA's Star Wars Battlefront II video game. The Loot Box scandal triggered a global debate about whether pay-to-unlock boxes within video games should constitute as gambling or not, and thus certain game developers would be guilty of promoting gambling to minors. However, the Gambling Commission eventually decided that the loot boxes could not be characterised as gambling because a reward was always issued.[20]
See also
References
- ^ "Gambling Act 2005", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 2005 c. 19
- ^ "FCA proposes stricter rules for contract for difference products". Financial Conduct Authority. 6 December 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
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(help) - ^ "Departments, agencies and public bodies". Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
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(help) - ^ "About us". Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
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(help) - ^ Statutory Instrument 2013 No. 2329 The Public Bodies (Merger of the Gambling Commission and the National Lottery Commission) Order 2013
- ^ a b c The Gambling Commission: What it is and what it does (PDF)]
- ^ "Gambling Commission Business Plan 2018-2019" (PDF). Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ "UKGC Announces 2019 Plan to Improve Industry Standards". 2 May 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ "New UK gambling law explained: what's all the fuss about?" Right Casino. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
- ^ Macgregor, Ewen (19 November 2014). "World Sports Law Report Blog > The impact of the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act 2014". World Sports Law Report. e-comlaw.com. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
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(help) - ^ "Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act 2014", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 2014 c. 17
- ^ Biddle, Susan & Ferrie, Audrey. "What the gambling industry can expect in 2014". Out-law.com. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Compliance". Gambling Commission. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
- ^ Keaveny, Paul; Mike Hornby. "Wayne Rooney's father bailed in betting probe". The Independent. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
- ^ Gambling Commission: Regulatory Powers
- ^ "William Hill fined £6.2m for failing to protect customers and prevent money laundering". independent.co.uk. 20 February 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
- ^ "Gambling Commission fines William Hill £6.2m". bestbettingsites.uk. 21 February 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
- ^ "Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act 2014", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 2014 c. 17
- ^ "Distressed BetButler stops trading ahead of potential sale". SBC News. 1 September 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
{{cite news}}
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(help) - ^ "Gambling in video games under investigation by regulators". bestbettingsites.co.uk. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2018.