GAMBLING ACT

KEY BENEFITS

• Creates more protection for the public, particularly children and the vulnerable
• Updates the law to cover technological advances in gambling, for example, online facilities 
• Removes outdated and unnecessary regulatory restrictions and barriers to productivity
• Creates a robust, new industry-wide regulator,  the Gambling Commission
• Regulates betting exchanges
• Gives local authorities responsibility for licensing gambling premises
• Removes restrictions on membership, advertising, location and number of games machines in casinos
• Creates a first phase of no more than one regional casino
• Licenses internet gambling
• Reserves powers to raise levy from gambling operators for research into and treatment of problem gambling
• Makes it an offence for an adult to gamble with a child
• Removes gaming machines from 6000 unlicensed premises e.g. fish and chip shops

IMPLEMENTATION

The provisions will take effect over the next two years.

TERRITORIAL EXTENT

The Bill extends to Great Britain

COMMENTS

If you have any comments on the proposals you can email them to:
enquiries@culture.gov.uk