Pub betting reminder in Grand National week
Press release
Date: 7 April
2010
In Grand National week, the Gambling Commission (the Commission)
is reminding bookmakers and landlords of the law on betting in pub
premises.
The Commission has worked consistently with
local licensing authorities and the police to warn bookmakers,
publicans and club officials that commercial betting is not allowed
in pubs and clubs. A Commission leaflet explaining the issue was published
in February 2008 and has been distributed widely.
In recent months, including during the Cheltenham Festival, the
Commission and its partners in local authorities and the police
have found evidence of commercial betting including most recently
in premises in Hertfordshire, York and Hull.
Richard Ingram, the Commission’s National
Compliance Manager for betting said:
“The Commission’s role is to work with local
authorities and the police to ensure gambling is kept fair and safe
for all.
“We are reminding bookmakers and licensees of
the law in Grand National week and anyone in doubt should read the
leaflet on the website.”
Ends
Notes to editors
The Gambling Commission
- 1. The Gambling Commission (the Commission) regulates gambling
in the public interest alongside its co-regulators local licensing
authorities. 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. The Commission and local licensing authorities
are 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.
- 3. Investigations are continuing in the
Hertfordshire case whilst in York and Hull the alcohol licensees
have been interviewed by local police and have now provided
assurances that illegal betting activity will not take place on
their premises.
- 4. The Commission has also issued formal regulatory warnings to
a small number of licensed betting operators and more than a
hundred pubs and clubs were warned in 2008/09 In two cases, joint
working has also led to criminal cautions being issued. Details of
the previous cautions and warnings are available in the media section of the website
www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk.
Further information
- You can call John Travers on (0121) 230 6700, (07852) 124624 or
email him via communications@gamblingcommission.gov.uk.