Commission on hand to ensure festival gambling is fair and safe in Cheltenham

Press release

Date: 12 March 2010

The Gambling Commission (the Commission) will be supporting officers from Cheltenham Borough Council and Gloucestershire Police in keeping gambling fair and safe in Cheltenham during Cheltenham Festival week. 

While the Commission is not anticipating problems at the track during the prestigious race meeting, it is already working with co-regulators to ensure that any gambling that occurs away from Prestbury Park only does so under the appropriate licence or permit.

Over 150,000 racing fans are expected to decamp to Cheltenham during festival week. Many will arrive with significant cash sums to spend with licensed bookmakers. However, as racegoers often stay on in Cheltenham there is a concern they may be targeted by the unscrupulous before and after each day’s racing.

In addition to the Commission’s programme of compliance visits at the course and in the town, dedicated officers from the council and the police will be on the look out for unlicensed gambling. Leaflets explaining the law are already being distributed by Gloucestershire Police to licensed premises in the town.

Barry Stone, the Commission’s Regional Compliance Manager for the South-West, said:

“The Commission’s role is to work with co-regulators to ensure gambling is kept fair and safe for all.

“We want punters to enjoy the festival without coming up against any of the risks associated with illegal gambling activity at unlicensed venues. We will be on hand to support the police and local council in tackling any problems that arise.”

Cheltenham Town Centre INA Inspector Jon Roberts from Gloucestershire Police said:

“In an environment such as Cheltenham in Festival week, where cash is in abundance, we must be aware of the potential for criminals to exploit the situation.

“We are happy to work with other law enforcement and regulatory agencies to ensure that residents and visitors can enjoy the week safely and securely”.

Ends

Notes to editors

The Gambling Commission

  1. 1. The Gambling Commission (the 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 also provides independent advice to government on gambling in Britain.
  2. 2. The Commission is responsible for licensing and regulating all gambling in Great Britain other than the National Lottery and spread betting, which are the responsibility of the National Lottery Commission and the Financial Services Authority (FSA) respectively.  

Further information

  1. You can call John Travers on (0121) 230 6700, (07852) 124624 or email him via communications@gamblingcommission.gov.uk.