EU Legislation, Initiatives, etc.
DCMS: The government claims that its crackdown on gambling adverts from places that don't meet the UK's strict regulatory standards will lead to about one thousand gambling websites being banned from advertising in the UK. Independent research suggests there are around 2,300 gambling websites worldwide.
Regulations laid in Parliament last week use new powers in the Gambling Act 2005 to ban gambling adverts from companies operating outside the European Economic Area (EEA) from 1 September 2007, when the Gambling Act comes into force. Countries in the EEA do not have to apply to be white listed.
Gambling operators in jurisdictions that did not apply to be white listed are also automatically banned from 1 September too. These include major online gambling centres like Costa Rica and Belize.
Only Alderney and the Isle of Man were able to demonstrate that they had in place a rigorous licensing regime designed to stop children gambling, protect vulnerable people, keep games fair and keep out crime.
Press release ~ DCMS - Gambling ~ DCMS - 'White Listing' Criteria ~ DCMS: A Literature Review and Survey of Statistical Sources on Remote Gambling ~ Advertising Standards Authority ~ Gambling Commission
DSA: The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is now inviting the public to enter into consultation (closes on 31 October 2007) on the implementation of the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC). This isa new qualification that all professional bus, coach & lorry drivers will need to have if they want to drive for a living, which is being introduced across the European Union to maintain high driving standards – See ‘Consultation’ section above for more details.
