Gambling Act 2005

The Gambling Act 2005 (2005 c 19) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It mainly applies to England and Wales, and to Scotland, and is designed to control all forms of gambling. It transfers authority for licensing gambling from the magistrates' courts to local authorities (specifically unitary authorities, and the councils of metropolitan borough, non-metropolitan district and London boroughs), or to Scottish licensing boards. The Act also created the Gambling Commission.

Gambling Act 2005[1]
Long titleAn Act to make provision about gambling.
Citation2005 c 19
Dates
Royal assent7 April 2005
Status: Amended
Records of Parliamentary debate relating to the statute from Hansard, at TheyWorkForYou
Text of statute as originally enacted
Revised text of statute as amended

Provisions

The Act gives its objectives as

  1. preventing gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, being associated with crime or disorder or being used to support crime,
  2. ensuring that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way, and
  3. protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling.

Some provisions of the bill faced controversy, particularly in its original form, where it would have allowed eight so-called "super casinos" to be set up. With the Parliamentary session drawing to a close, a compromise was agreed to reduce this to one.[2] Despite a lengthy bidding process, with Manchester being chosen as the single planned location, the development was cancelled soon after Gordon Brown became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.[3] The Act also specifically regulates Internet gambling for the first time.

The law permits gambling companies to advertise on television and radio.[4]

The act is wide-ranging including regulation of lotteries. The "no purchase necessary" clause on on-product promotions and semi-legal competitions went, replaced with the so-called "New Zealand Model" where purchase may be a requirement, if the purchase is at the "normal selling price".

The Act, together with regulations and specifications developed by the Gambling Commission, define and in some cases redefine, categories of gaming machines and where they are allowed to be placed.

2014 amendments

From 1 December 2014, the Gambling (Licensing & Advertising) Act 2014 contributed several updates to the Act, including a requirement that all off-shore gambling brands apply for a licence from the Gambling Commission and submit to a 15% point of consumption (POC) tax on gross profits.[5]

2021 review

On 8 December 2020, the UK government announced a review of the act, to "make sure it is fit for the digital age". The announcement included a call for evidence, with a deadline at the end of March 2021.[6][7]

See also

Notes
  1. The citation of this Act by this short title is authorised by section 362 of this Act.
  2. "Climbdown saves super casino plan". BBC News website. 2005-04-05. Retrieved 2007-08-09.
  3. "Super-casino proposal is ditched". BBC News. 2008-02-26. Retrieved 2010-05-03.
  4. Reuben, Anthony (22 September 2018). "Premier League shirts row: The fickle fashions of sponsorship". BBC News. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  5. "New UK gambling law explained: what's all the fuss about?" Right Casino. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  6. Greenwood, Yvonne (2020-12-11). "Slot Machines Set To Be Targeted Under Gambling Act Review". SlotsHawk. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  7. "Review of the Gambling Act 2005 Terms of Reference and Call for Evidence". GOV.UK. Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport. 8 December 2020. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
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