Sports and Recreation: Gambling
These regulations deal with ensuring fair and safe gambling including the licensing of authorised premises, individuals and duties on gambling activities. This section also covers regulations on the types and numbers of machines and activities on licensed premises.
You can find all the regulations relating to Gambling in the box below to the left. Go back to the Sports & Recreation theme landing page by clicking here.
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Licensing Act 2003 (Amendment of the Gaming Act 1968) (Transfer of Gaming Machine Permits) Order 2005, SI 2005/3027 These regulations impose restrictions on the transfer of gaming permits. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Licensing Act 2003 (Amendment of the Lotteries and Amusements Act 1976) (Transfer of Amusements With Prizes Permits) Order 2005, SI 2005/3028 These regulations impose restrictions on the transfer of gaming permits. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Categories of Casino Regulations 2008, SI 2008/1330 These regulations specify how a casino is classified as a large or small casino, including the minimum size for a licensed casino Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling (Geographical Distribution of Large and Small Casino Premises Licences) Order 2008, SI 2008/1327 These regulations direct the Football Licensing Authority to include conditions on seating requirements for spectators, when granting a licence Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling (Inviting Competing Applications for Large and Small Casino Premises Licences) Regulations 2008, SI 2008/469 These regulations detail how licensing authorities should invite applications for large and small casino premises licences. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling (Lottery Machine Interval) Order 2007, SI 2007/2495 These regulations outlines the minimum amount of time that must elapse between the purchase of a lottery ticket from a machine and the announcement of the result by the machine. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling (Operating Licence and Single-Machine Permit Fees) (Amendment) (No 2) Regulations 2007, SI 2007/1791 These regulations prescribe the fees payable in relation to gambling operating licences and single machine permits. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling (Operating Licence and Single-Machine Permit Fees) (Amendment) (No 2) Regulations 2008, SI 2008/3105 These regulations provide protection against an overlap between fee categories for operating licences and single machine permits. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling (Operating Licence and Single-Machine Permit Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2007, SI 2007/269 These regulations amend the annual fees for all categories of non-remote operating licences Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling (Operating Licence and Single-Machine Permit Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2008, SI 2008/1803 These regulations create certain new fee categories and set new levels of fees for operating licences and single machine permits Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling (Operating Licence and Single-Machine Permit Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2009, SI 2009/1837 These regulations create certain new fee categories for operating licences and single machine permits Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling (Operating Licence and Single-Machine Permit Fees) Regulations 2006, SI 2006/3284 These Regulations prescribe fees relating to operating licences (application, annual and other fees) and single-machine supply and maintenance permits (application fees only) Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling (Personal Licence Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2009, SI 2009/1971 These regulations increase the level of fees for applications and maintenance of personal licences. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling (Personal Licence Fees) Regulations 2006, SI 2006/3285 These regulations prescribe application, maintenance and other fees relating to personal licences. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling (Personal Licences) (Modification of Part 5 of the Gambling Act 2005) Regulations 2006, SI 2006/3267 These regulations detail application, maintenance and other fees relating to personal licences. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling (Premises Licence Fees) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007, SI 2007/479 These regulations detail application, annual and other fees relating to premises licences Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling Act 2005 (Advertising of Foreign Gambling) (Amendment) (No 2) Regulations 2008, SI 2008/2829 These regulations enable specific countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA) to advertise gambling in the UK. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling Act 2005 (Advertising of Foreign Gambling) Regulations 2007, SI 2007/2329 These regulations specify the places which are to be treated as European Economic Area (EEA) States and can therefore advertise gambling in the UK. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling Act 2005 (Amendment of Schedule 6) Order 2007, SI 2007/2101 This Order enables the Gambling Commission to provide information to the Horserace Betting Levy Board and the British Boxing Board of Control Limited. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling Act 2005 (Club Gaming and Club Machine Permits) (Amendment) Regulations 2007, SI 2007/2689 These regulations provides a new form for applications for a club gaming or club machine permit. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling Act 2005 (Club Gaming and Club Machine Permits) Regulations 2007, SI 2007/1834 These regulations outline the rules on club gaming and club machine permits, including the application form, the form of each permit, and various fees Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling Act 2005 (Club Gaming Permits) (Authorised Gaming) Regulations 2007, SI 2007/1945 These regulations prescribe the games of chance that may be played under a club gaming permit and the maximum amount that may be charged for participating. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling Act 2005 (Definition of Small-scale Operator) Regulations 2006, SI 2006/3266 These regulations define a ‘small scale operator’ and the qualifying criteria to be exempt from a personal licence. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling Act 2005 (Exclusion of Children from Track Areas) Order 2007, SI 2007/1410 This Order amends rules on allowing children and young persons to enter race tracks or horse races on race days to add other track events when a race or other sporting event takes place. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling Act 2005 (Exempt Gaming in Alcohol-Licensed Premises) (Amendment) Regulations 2007, SI 2007/2240 These regulations amend the Gambling Act 2005 (Exempt Gaming in Alcohol-Licensed Premises) Regulations 2007) by removing references to non existence paragraphs in those regulations Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling Act 2005 (Exempt Gaming in Alcohol-Licensed Premises) Regulations 2007, SI 2007/1940 These regulations prescribe the maximum amounts that may be staked and won in equal chance games. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling Act 2005 (Exempt Gaming in Clubs) Regulations 2007, SI 2007/1944 These regulations describe the maximum amounts that may be staked and won and the maximum participation fee that may be charged in games of equal chance Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling Act 2005 (Family Entertainment Centre Gaming Machine) (Permits) Regulations 2007, SI 2007/454 These regulations describe the fees for a family entertainment centre gaming machine permit, and the form of the permit. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling Act 2005 (Gaming in Clubs) Regulations 2007, SI 2007/1942 These regulations describe the kinds of gaming which can be considered when establishing a gaming members’ or commercial club. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling Act 2005 (Gaming Machines in Bingo Premises) Order 2009, SI 2009/324 These regulations set the maximum number of Category B gaming machines that may be made available for use on bingo premises e.g. increase from four to eight Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling Act 2005 (Gaming Machines) (Definitions) Regulations 2007, SI 2007/2082 These regulations define the meanings to the terms “dual-use computer” and “domestic computer”, which are not classified as gaming machines Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling Act 2005 (Gaming Tables in Casinos) (Definitions) Regulations 2009, SI 2009/1970 These regulations defines “gaming tables” and the circumstances in which they are considered to be in a casino. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling Act 2005 (Horserace Betting Levy) Order 2007, SI 2007/2159 These regulations defines the Horserace Betting Levy Board and the levy payable to the Board under the bookmakers’ levy Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling Act 2005 (Horserace Totalisator Board) Order 2007, SI 2007/2102 This Order outlines the terms of the Horserace Totalisator Board (“the Tote”). Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling Act 2005 (Incidental Non-Commercial Lotteries) Regulations 2007, SI 2007/2040 These regulations prescribe the maximum sums that promoters may deduct from the proceeds of an incidental non-commercial lottery Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling Act 2005 (Inspection) (Provision of Information) Regulations 2007, SI 2007/319 These regulations require persons who conduct gambling inspection to provide information about their role and powers Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling Act 2005 (Licensed Premises Gaming Machine Permits) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007, SI 2007/1833 These regulations detail how gaming machine permits are granted, including the form of a permit and information on fees Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling Act 2005 (Licensing Authority Policy Statement) (England and Wales) Regulations 2006, SI 2006/636 These regulations ensure that Licensing Authorities make a statement on how they intend to approve permits Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling Act 2005 (Licensing Authority Policy Statement) (First Appointed Day) Order 2006, SI 2006/637 This Order describes the first appointed day of a three-year licensing policy Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling Act 2005 (Limits on Prize Gaming) Regulations 2009, SI 2009/1272 These regulations describe the limits on participation fees, and maximum prize amounts in respect of “prize gaming”, e.g a game of chance which is not dependent on the number of players or the prize fund Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling Act 2005 (Mandatory and Default Conditions) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007, SI 2007/1409 These regulations set various conditions to different types of gambling premises licences Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling Act 2005 (Non-Commercial Equal-Chance Gaming) Regulations 2007, SI 2007/2041 These regulations prescribe the limits for non-commercial, equal chance gaming. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling Act 2005 (Operating Licence Conditions) (Amendment) Regulations 2010, SI 2010/774 These regulations detail conditions which are to be attached to operating licences for prize gaming in bingo halls.The amendments increase the maximum participation fee and money prize levels. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling Act 2005 (Operating Licence Conditions) Regulations 2007, SI 2007/2257 These regulations set various conditions to different types of gambling operating licences. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling Act 2005 (Premises Licences and Provisional Statements) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007, SI 2007/1775 These regulations detail the information that needs to be included in plans accompanying applications for premises licences. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling Act 2005 (Premises Licences and Provisional Statements) Regulations 2007, SI 2007/459 These regulations detail how applications for gambling premises licences should be made Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling Act 2005 (Premises Licences) (Review) (Amendment) Regulations 2007, SI 2007/3539 These regulations remove the requirement for licensing authorities to notify responsible authorities of their intention to hold a review, and the related provisions relating to failure to give proper notice Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling Act 2005 (Premises Licences) (Review) Regulations 2007, SI 2007/2258 These regulations detail information on how applications for a review of a premises licence can be made. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling Act 2005 (Prize Gaming) (Permits) Regulations 2007, SI 2007/455 These regulations describe the fees relating to a prize gaming permit, and the form of the permit. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling Act 2005 (Proceedings of Licensing Committees and Sub-committees) (Premises Licences and Provisional Statements) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007, SI 2007/173 These regulations describe the proceedings of licensing committees and subcommittees, where they are required to hold a hearing for applications for premises licences. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling Act 2005 (Relevant Offences) (Amendment) Order 2006, SI 2006/3391 This Order amends the list of offences that are relevant when granting and maintaining operating and personal licences. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling Act 2005 (Repeal) (Remote Operating Licence and Credit) Regulations 2007, SI 2007/2321 These Regulations repeal certain elements of the Gambling Act 2005 (remote operating licence, the abolition of restrictions on the import and export of goods) and outline the UK’s obligations to notify technical standards in draft to the European Commission, under the Technical Standards Directive. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling Act 2005 (Temporary Use Notices) Regulations 2007, SI 2007/3157 These regulations detail how a operating licence holder can use a temporary use notice for a premises, for a set period of time, in place of a full premises licence Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling Act 2005 (Transitional Provisions) (No 2) Order 2006, SI 2006/1758 This Order makes transitional arrangements on the grant or renewal of certain licences and permits Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling Act 2005 (Transitional Provisions) Order 2006, SI 2006/1038 This Order makes transitional arrangements in connection with the commencement of the Gambling Act 2005. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gambling Act 2005 (Variation of Monetary Limit) Order 2009, SI 2009/207 This Order details conditions on lottery operating licences that are issued to non-commercial societies or local authorities Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Categories of Gaming Machine (Amendment) Regulations 2009, SI 2009/1502 These regulations increase the stake and prize limits for certain categories of machine Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Categories of Gaming Machine Regulations 2007, SI 2007/2158 These regulations provide the necessary definitions for each category of Gaming Machine – A to D, according to the maximum charges and prizes. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gaming Machine (Circumstances of Use) Regulations 2007, SI 2007/2319 These regulations prescribe the rules which control how gaming machines are made available for use Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gaming Machine (Single Apparatus) Regulations 2007, SI 2007/2289 These regulations provides for circumstances in which a single piece of apparatus which is a gaming machine, is to be treated as more than one gaming machine. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gaming Machine (Supply &c) Regulations 2007, SI 2007/2320 These regulations provide that a gaming machine may not be supplied or installed if it is designed or adapted to permit money to be paid by credit or debit card. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Gaming Machines in Alcohol Licensed Premises (Notification Fee) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007, SI 2007/1832 This regulation provides for circumstances in which a person with on- premises alcohol licence could make Gaming Machines available Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Horserace Betting Levy (Bookmakers’ Committee) Regulations 2003, SI 2003/1909 These Regulations provides detail on the constitution of the Bookmakers’ Committee Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Horserace Betting Levy Schemes (Variation of Settlement Period) Order 1981, SI 1981/753 This Order reduces the length of time the Horserace Betting Levy Board has to approve the recommendations of the Bookmakers’ Committee Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Small Society Lotteries (Registration of Non-Commercial Societies) Regulations 2007, SI 2007/2328 These Regulations prescribe the fees and other requirements in relation to the registration of non-commercial societies for the promotion of small society lotteries. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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The Gambling Act 2005 (Gaming Machines in Adult Gaming Centres and Bingo Premises) Order 2011 (SI 2011/1710) This Order allows a variation in the number of Category B gaming machines that may be authorised to be made available for use in adult gaming centres and bingo premises. Read More… (opens in a new window)
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The Categories of Gaming Machines (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/1711) These regulations increase the maximum charge for using sub-category B3 gaming machines Read More… (opens in a new window)
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Tell us what you think should happen to these regulations and why, being specific where possible:
- Should we scrap them altogether?
- Could their purpose be achieved in a non-regulatory way (eg through a voluntary code?) How?
- Could they be reformed, simplified or merged? How?
- Can we reduce their bureaucracy through better implementation? How?
- Can we make their enforcement less burdensome? How?
- Should they be left as they are?
The Remote Gambling Association is the largest trade association for the global online gambling industry. It represents more than 30 of the world’s largest licensed and stock market-listed remote gambling companies and provides the industry with a single voice on all the issues of importance to regulators, legislators, and key decision makers around the world. Our current membership and further information about the RGA can be found at [Text Deleted]
The Gambling Act 2005 set out a regime which was intended to be “future proof” and which allowed the regulator to act swiftly where there was a breach of the licensing objectives or to react to developments in either the market or technology which are beneficial to consumers.
Most of the regulations attached to the Gambling Act do not impact on the remote gambling sector and so we have no comment on them.
The RGA’s concerns are centred on:
• the slow pace of response to industry concerns and questions;
• the overreliance on legal remedies;
• the increasing cost of integrity surveillance; and
• differences between the policy objectives of DCMS and those of the Gambling Commission.
• Regulatory returns
• Co-operation with regulators in other jurisdictions
Slow pace of response
• A streamlined approach to responding to concerns and questions is essential in a tech-led industry. The remote gambling industry is technology led with rapid innovation and this leads to new markets opening quickly and the throwing up of new issues. Operators who approach the Commission to discuss compliance issues find that it can take a very long time to get a ruling for example on whether a new product or service can be introduced.
Reliance on legal remedies
• We understand that the Gambling Commission is created by statute and must work within the law and its constraints. However on occasion members of the RGA have approached the Commission with an issue where a common sense approach would result in comfort on both sides. However the Commission has sought detailed legal advice which has taken a long time to resolve. If the law is tightly interpreted then inevitably gambling activity is restricted whereas the Gambling Commission has a duty to allow gambling where it is not in conflict with the three licensing objectives. In short, there is a concern that the regulatory flexibility that was deliberately introduced in the Gambling Act to accommodate specifically new technologies and the potential speed of change is not necessarily being used to best effect. The desire for legal certainty by a regulator is completely understandable, but there is a perception that the balance is not currently right.
The increasing scope of integrity surveillance
• In its response to the most recent consultation on fees the RGA stated that it was concerned that the Commission was extending its work on sports betting integrity without any evidence that the problem was increasing and posing more of a risk to the licensing objectives. A suitable allocation of resources to sports betting integrity is clearly worthwhile, however, given the significant increase in integrity costs we believe that further detailed information is required to justify such substantial year-on-year increases in Commission spend in this area.
Policy differences between DCMS and the Gambling Commission
• Members of the RGA have found themselves caught between the regulator and the department. Operators approaching the Commission have been told that a proposal is unacceptable when it has been “cleared” following discussions with DCMS and sometimes the Commission has expressed a view which has then be disregarded by DCMS. This leads to confusion and further market stagnation. Evidence led policy making should allow innovation unless there is a proven harm and this is what all parties should be striving for.
Regulatory returns
• There is a longstanding concern that the breadth and depth of information required in the regulatory returns creates a disproportionate compliance burden when measured against the use that the Commission derives from the data. It remains the case that the Commission has no compelling reason for seeking such detailed data in every case. A review of the regulatory returns systems would be very welcome to explore further whether the Commission can justify the full range of information that is currently being sought.
Co-operation with regulators in other jurisdictions
• The gambling industry, and in particular the remote betting and software sectors, is increasingly international in nature. There are undoubtedly regulatory synergies to be derived from well regarded jurisdictions working as closely together as possible. This would reduce overall regulatory costs for both regulators and the industry. We are aware and appreciate that the Commission is already actively engaging with other regulators and in international regulators’ forums to address some of these issues, but we believe that much more can still be done.Comment Tags: Remote gambling
The 2005 Gambling Act contains a provision that every company which develops gambling software in the UK has to hold a licence from the Commission.
The regulations stipulate that this is required even if the software is never used in connection with a UK Gambling Operator licence.
You could sell it in China or Australia and have to pay the UK government for the privilege of employing people here.
The only justification for such a regulation would be if the licensing process ensured some standards in the software developed here which foreign operators or regulators could base their purchasing decisions upon.
But it does not.
Gambling software developed in the UK does not have to be certified or tested here to Gambling Commission standards unless it is actually used here.
In our case, we do not certify in the UK because we have no UK operators as customers of our software.
This situation was clearly not anticipated when the rules were written and there is precedent now for changing the position.
Recently the Government clarified that UK gambling duties do not need to be paid on gambling which does not take place under a UK operating licence, even if the servers are in the UK [EDITED TEXT]
The same principle should be applied to software development; this is help more companies invest in the UK and create jobs here.Comment Tags: gambling software, Gamblng Act, Licensing, software, software development
Re-notification of Automatic Entitlement when premises licence holder changes
This requirement should be removed from the Gambling Act 2005, as this is a prime example of unnecessary red tape for pubs. There is no good reason as to why the notification for automatic entitlement is linked to the premises licence holder (under the Licensing Act 2003) – especially as where the pub company/brewer holding the premises licence has no need to re-notify when a manager changes, why then should an independent licensee need to go through the administrative process and pay the £50 fee when he or she takes on an existing premises licence? The fact that this notification is of an automatic entitlement where the pub may choose to site one, two or even no machines makes this bureaucratic process even more unnecessary, and does not allow Local Authorities to monitor machine numbers (the MGD register will fulfil this function from February 2013). This regulation should be removed as part of the Red Tape Challenge for the reasons listed above and premises should not have to re-notify or pay a fee when the premises licence holder changes. The fact that this regulation has seen inconsistent enforcement across different local authority areas further highlights that some Councils take a pragmatic view of the legislation whilst others follow the letter of the law adds to the uncertainty for business surrounding this regulation.Comment Tags: automatic entitlement, Category C, Pubs
Requirement to list numbers of Category C and D machines on Licensed Premises Gaming Machine Permits
Where pubs wish to site more than two machines under their automatic entitlement and apply for a Permit, some Local Authorities stipulate that the exact number of machines allowed must be specified on the Permit. This is unnecessarily bureaucratic and costly to the sector as pub operators who wish to vary the number of Category C or D machines are unable to easily do so and incur a cost. The law/guidance should be clarified in this regard to allow flexibility on the number of machines sited under a permit.Comment Tags: Category C, Licensed Premises Gaming Machine Permit, Pubs
Three-year Review of Gambling Licensing Policies
The requirement for Local Authorities to review their licensing policy every three years should be removed. This is a costly and time consuming process for Local Authorities and those wishing to respond. Since Local Authorities can review their policies at any time as and when needed, a fixed review process is unnecessary. This is also out of step with the Licensing Act 2003 statement of licensing policy review requirement, which has now been extended from three to five years.Comment Tags: Statement of Licensing Policy Review
The regulations are a complete joke in regard to FOBTs. The industry knows this and the government know this but both parties want to make hay while the sun shines. The industry needs to drain the monetary lifeblood out of ever increasing numbers of addicts and the government (any government) is addicted to the tax billions
I think the rules currently in place for “gaming machines” need tighter regulation,these machines are played almost exclusively by problem gamblers,….the bookmaking industry know this and are preying on people who are ill.Comment Tags: Seano.