{"id":256,"date":"2007-09-12T06:20:00","date_gmt":"2007-09-12T11:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/69.80.208.152\/affiliateprogramadvice\/?p=256"},"modified":"2009-11-26T00:01:25","modified_gmt":"2009-11-26T05:01:25","slug":"the-biggest-changes-to-uk-gambling-laws-in-30-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.affiliateprogramadvice.com\/index.php\/2007\/09\/12\/the-biggest-changes-to-uk-gambling-laws-in-30-years\/","title":{"rendered":"The biggest changes to UK gambling laws in 30 years"},"content":{"rendered":"

The biggest changes to UK gambling laws in 30 years
\nby Catherine Dunn of affiliateprogramadvice.com
\n<\/a>
\nThe biggest changes to UK gambling laws in 30 years were introduced this month. As from 1st September 2007, the Gambling Act 2005 came into force in Britain. The new Act overhauls legislation that dates from as far back as 1845! It covers all forms of gambling in the UK (with the exception of the National Lottery) from casinos to bingo halls, and all British based gambling websites too. And we\u2019re talking big business here \u2013 in 2006 the entire gambling market was worth more than \u00a391 billion to the UK economy!<\/span>The new UK gambling laws have brought casinos, bookmakers and gambling websites under a new regulatory body \u2013 the Gambling Commission. All gaming operators based in Britain will have to prove they meet strict conditions before they will be granted a licence by the Commission. For instance, they\u2019ll have to prominently display information about responsible gambling or face steep fines and possibly even prosecution. They\u2019ll have to satisfy the Commission that their games are fair and open and free from crime, and that there is proper protection for children. The aims of the Gambling Commission are to tighten industry regulation and ensure the young and vulnerable are not exploited. So for instance, we\u2019ll be seeing fruit machines in premises such as takeaways and mini cab offices (where children can play unsupervised) phased out by 2009.<\/p>\n

The new Act has come about after vigorous lobbying by the gaming industry and because of changing social attitudes towards gambling (just think of the hugely popular and successful National Lottery \u2013 first launched in 1994!). The Act was designed to keep pace with the changing world of gambling and its increasing popularity, as well as the huge expansion in online gambling. But what does the Gambling Act mean for ordinary people? The UK has long been seen as one of the most strictly regulated gaming environments in Europe, but with the introduction of this Act, the UK\u2019s gambling laws have been relaxed. And that\u2019s a good thing because gaming restrictions in the UK have undeniably restricted growth in the industry for decades. A good example is casinos being forced to operate as private members’ clubs. This has definitely been a major disadvantage for casinos and they\u2019ve lost out on lucrative tourist traffic because of it. Well now the membership requirements on casinos have been lifted so you no longer have to be a member of a casino in order to go inside. The Act means you\u2019ll also be seeing the creation of more regional casinos, plus bigger slot machine payouts \u2013 so it can\u2019t be all bad!
\nBut the biggest change of all has got to be the lifting of the ban on TV and radio advertising. For the first time, casinos and gambling websites will be able to advertise on TV and radio in the UK. Adverts will be subject to a code of practice enforced by the Advertising Standards Authority and TV ads will follow the 9pm watershed (except around televised sporting events).<\/p>\n

However, under the new legislation, many online gaming websites will be unable to advertise in Britain as the Act bans gambling adverts from companies operating outside the European Economic Area (EEA). There are approximately 2,300 gambling websites worldwide and many of these fall outside the EEA. In fact, it\u2019s been estimated that up to 1,000 online gaming sites will fall foul of this part of the new legislation, including some of the biggest and most recognisable brands!<\/p>\n

The Act allows remote gaming operators (such as gambling websites) to be based in and regulated by Britain for the first time. But there have been question marks over whether many online gambling companies will actually register onshore (given that betting duty has been set at 15%). Many companies are expected to relocate to Gibraltar instead which is fast becoming an online gambling capital. And not surprising too, it has a reputation for being reputable and well-regulated and all importantly \u2013 having low taxes! Or as an alternative, many gambling companies are relocating to Malta – it\u2019s been reported that in recent weeks, Malta has received a flood of applications from online casinos and gaming sites to relocate their companies to its shores. Both countries also have the advantage of being treated as EEA member states, meaning they will be able to advertise on TV and radio in the UK. So it remains to be seen whether this part of the new legislation will actually succeed in attracting gambling websites to British shores.<\/p>\n

The UK casino industry is unusual because it is mainly city based; if you take London as an example \u2013 you\u2019ll find it accounts for more than 65% of the country’s gaming revenue! It\u2019s noticeable that European countries such as Greece, Turkey and France are beginning to establish casinos as part of larger leisure developments. In fact, France only permits casinos in “resort” areas. It\u2019s easy to think of a number of potential holiday resorts in Britain, coastal or otherwise, that would benefit hugely from the rejuvenation that a major leisure and casino complex might bring (Manchester anyone?!). Establishing casinos in some of our more popular holiday resorts could well bring about a huge growth in tourism that would benefit everyone. With Europe starting to recognise that casinos have a place in tourism and entertainment (not to mention the rejuvenation of local areas) then isn\u2019t it about time Britain does too? Otherwise we run the risk of being left behind.<\/p>\n

Probably one of the biggest news stories in the UK recently, has been the proposal of a super casino. Following a hugely contested and highly publicised bidding process, it was eventually decided in January this year that the new super casino would be located in Manchester (much to the shock and disappointment of the supporters of Blackpool and the former Millennium Dome who were also bidding and were favourites to win). So having decided that Manchester would be the chosen location for Britain\u2019s very first Las Vegas style super casino, there was much disappointment in the city when these plans were put on hold following Gordon Brown\u2019s announcement of a review of the government\u2019s policy. He called for a report on the \u201csocial effects” of gambling (the results of which were promised by September). The review will look at the whole issue of super casinos and not just the decision to award one to Manchester. So we are still very much in the dark as to whether or not Britain will ever actually get a super casino at all! So for now if you want Las Vegas style gambling, then unfortunately it\u2019s still Las Vegas for you!<\/p>\n

Speaking of super casinos Macau has just built the biggest casino in the world! The game floor alone measures a whopping 52,000 square metres and holds 870 blackjack and roulette tables, and more than 3,400 slot machines! There\u2019s even a replica of St Mark\u2019s Square in Venice, complete with Doge\u2019s Palace and Campanile! And let\u2019s not forget about the canals with actual gondolas floating on them! Plus a ceiling that resembles the Sistine Chapel! It cost US $2.4 billion to build and is owned by Las Vegas Sands Corp. The casino is part of a huge complex with space for 350 shops and 30 restaurants, plus a 15,000 seat sports arena, and 3,000 suites too! By any standards, this is definitely a super casino!<\/p>\n

Hondo film<\/a><\/u> The proposed \u2018super casino\u2019 in Manchester would probably be completely dwarfed in comparison to the new casino in Macau, but unfortunately we may never find out! But at least it\u2019s good news for casinos on the new legislation front and about time too!<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The biggest changes to UK gambling laws in 30 years by Catherine Dunn of affiliateprogramadvice.com The biggest changes to UK gambling laws in 30 years were introduced this month. As from 1st September 2007, the Gambling Act 2005 came into force in Britain. The new Act overhauls legislation that dates from as far back as […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.affiliateprogramadvice.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/256"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.affiliateprogramadvice.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.affiliateprogramadvice.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.affiliateprogramadvice.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.affiliateprogramadvice.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=256"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/www.affiliateprogramadvice.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/256\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1801,"href":"http:\/\/www.affiliateprogramadvice.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/256\/revisions\/1801"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.affiliateprogramadvice.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=256"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.affiliateprogramadvice.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=256"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.affiliateprogramadvice.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=256"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}