Sports Minister
Gerry Sutcliffe today announced proposals to bring in new licence
requirements for overseas-based online gambling firms who want to
have a customer base in Britain.
The plans, which will be subject to a consultation period, would
mean that online operators currently licensed outside Britain will
have to apply for a licence from the Gambling Commission if they
want to advertise or provide their gambling services to British consumers.
Under the plans, all online gambling firms active in the British
market will have an obligation to share information about
suspicious betting patterns with the UK’s sports governing bodies
as well as the Gambling Commission. They will also have to comply
with British licence requirements including the protection of
children and vulnerable people, and will have to demonstrate how
they will contribute to the research, education and treatment of
problem gambling in Britain.
The Government is considering what the plans mean for operators
based in countries outside Europe – specifically in terms of the
Government’s approved ‘whitelist’ of countries whose operators are
able to advertise in the UK. The Government intends to keep the
‘whitelist’ in some form and it will remain a fundamental part of
any future regulatory system. Proposals for any changes to the
system will be included in the consultation.
Today’s plans have been announced following a review of the
system of online gambling regulation in Great Britain, focusing on
consumer protection and ways to ensure that overseas operators
contribute towards regulation, problem gambling treatment and the
Horserace Betting Levy. The review has looked in some detail at
the way the system currently works, as well as exploring the
significant regulatory changes taking place in Europe and beyond.
The Government is still investigating ways to secure fair
contributions from overseas operators to the Horserace Betting
Levy.
Minister for Sport Gerry Sutcliffe said:
"Online gambling has changed significantly in recent
years with many European countries taking new approaches to
regulation. It would be wrong of us to stand still where things
are changing around us - especially where the protection of
British consumers may be at stake.
"The new system outlined today will also ensure that
all businesses offering online gambling to our consumers adhere to
our rules – not someone else’s. The Gambling Act is already one of
the best regulatory frameworks in the world and these changes will
ensure that it sets the standard for all online gambling companies
that target British consumers.
"This is also about making sure overseas firms
contribute their fair share towards regulatory costs and vital
services like problem gambling treatment.
"In terms of the Horserace Betting Levy, I remain firmly
of the view that all operators taking bets on British races should
pay their fair share. There is more to do but I am committed to
making sure this happens."
PN 001/10
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. A Written Ministerial Statement on the proposals is available
on the DCMS website.
2. More information on the ‘whitelist’ is available on the DCMS
website. The territories currently on the list are Antigua and
Barbuda, Tasmania, the States of Alderney and the Isle of Man.
‘Whitelisting’ is the process used to assess the regulatory
frameworks for gambling in jurisdictions (based outside the EEA)
that have applied for permission to advertise their services in
the UK.
3. 'European countries' means European Economic
Area member states and Gibraltar.
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