The Gambling Commission publishes updated conditions and codes for the gambling industry
Press release
Date: 1 June
2007
The Gambling Commission published the second issue of its
Licence Conditions and Coes of Practice (LCCP or the
conditions and codes) today. All operators in the gambling industry
must follow these conditions and codes if they want to run a
gambling business in Britain from 1 September 2007.
The conditions and codes set out the rules which operators must
observe to meet the three licensing objectives of:
- keeping crime out of gambling,
- ensuring that gambling is fair and open, and
- protecting children and other vulnerable people from being
harmed or exploited by gambling.
LCCP June 2007 is published three months before the new regime
becomes operational. It accurately reflects the Commission's
intentions and takes into account further publications of
regulations under the Gambling Act 2005.
This publication gives those who have applied for operating and
personal licences certainty about the conditions and codes that
they will be required to comply with from 1 September 2007. It
replaces an earlier issue published by the Commission in November
2006, and supplement 1 of the LCCP, relating to the financial
requirements and conditions, which was issued in December 2006.
The Commission has powers to prosecute operators who fail to
maintain the standards we set and can impose a range of regulatory
sanctions including fines on operators that breach their conditions
and codes.
This publication includes reference to a number of other
documents that are published today, including remote gambling and
software technical standards, gaming machine technical standards
and integrity in sports betting - information sharing.
Amendments have also been made following the publication of
Regulations under the Gambling Act 2005 and to ensure that the
Commission's intentions are accurately reflected in the conditions
and codes.
Ends
Notes to editors
Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice
The Gambling Commission launched its first edition of LCCP, in
November 2006. LCCP was published following consultation with a
wide range of interested organisations, stakeholders, and
individuals, including representatives of the gambling industry,
local authorities, faith groups, responsible gambling organisations
and government departments.
LCCP June 2007 is available to download from the Gambling Commission
website along with a two page summary of the Licence Conditions
and Codes of Practice and an explanation of the changes between the
first issue in November 2006 and LCCP June 2007.
Additional details include a requirement for betting operators
to provide sport governing bodies with information they suspect may
lead the Commission to consider making an order to void a bet or
relate to a breach of a rule applied by that sport governing body;
and a provision to ensure that user interfaces on remote gambling
websites always meet the requirements of the technical
standards.
A list of the conditions and codes relevant to each licence
holder will be issued as part of their Operating Licence.
Under the terms of the transitional arrangements set by DCMS,
the relevant conditions and codes from LCCP June 07 will apply not
only to new licences issued by the Commission under the Gambling
Act 2005, but also:
- in the case of those applicable to lottery operating licences
issued to non-commercial societies, to converted society lottery
operating licences which will replace current registrations
under the 1976 Lotteries and Amusements Act;
- in the case of those applicable to gaming machine technical
operating licences, to continuing machine supply or maintenance
certificates issued under section 27 of the 1968 Gaming Act;
and
- to any interim personal or operating licence a person holds
pending final determination of their licence application.
Relevant requirements of the conditions and code provisions were
notified in draft to the European Commission in accordance with
Directive 98/34/EC, as amended by Directive
98/48/EC.
The Gambling Commission
The Gambling Commission regulates gambling in the public
interest. It does so by keeping crime out of gambling, by ensuring
that gambling is conducted fairly and openly, and by protecting
children and vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by
gambling.
The Commission will regulate all gambling other than the
National Lottery and spread betting, which will remain,
respectively, the responsibility of the National Lottery Commission
and the Financial Services Authority.
From 1 September 2007, British-based operators who wish to
provide gambling must have a Gambling Commission licence. Licensed
operators who fail to observe the Commission's licence conditions
will be at risk of unlimited fines, prosecution and the removal of
their licence.
Further information
For further information please contact: Mark Lepkowski or John
Travers on 0121 230 6700, or email communications@gamblingcommission.gov.uk.
Out of hours: 07950 572145 or 07852 124624