Pub betting reminder follows Cumbria convictions

Press release

Date: 27 May 2011

The Gambling Commission is reminding bookmakers and landlords of the law on betting in pub premises after fines totaling more than £6,000 were levied on a bookmaker and pub landlord in Cumbria.

Yesterday (26 May) at West Allerdale Magistrates Court, DSL Betting (Cumbria) Limited pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the use of premises to provide facilities for betting when no appropriate licence was in force; and providing facilities for gambling not holding a licence or being exempt. The company was fined a total of £4,500 and ordered to pay court costs of £625 and a £15 victims surcharge.

In March 2011 at the same court, the pub’s licensee Mr John Reid pleaded guilty to providing facilities for betting without a licence. He was fined £650 and ordered to pay costs of £75 and a victims surcharge of £15. The case was prosecuted by Allerdale Borough Council who were supported in their enforcement action by both the Commission and Cumbria Police.

The Commission has worked consistently with 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 back in February 2008 and has been distributed widely.

The Commission’s Director of Regulation, Nick Tofiluk said:
 
“Commercial betting is not allowed in pubs and in the majority of cases landlords are quick to take action to keep illegal betting off the premises.

“This prosecution demonstrates that if individuals persist in illegally offering betting in pubs then the Commission will support its local partners in tackling the issue.”

Ends

Notes to editors

The Gambling Commission

  1. 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. 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. 3. See the Terms & Conditions section of our website for information on legal advice.  
  4. 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 have been warned in the past. In two previous cases, joint working has also led to criminal cautions being issued. Details of the previous cautions are available in the media section of the website www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk. Details of regulatory sanctions are available on the regulatory sanctions register.
  5. 5. In the light of the conviction, the Commission is considering what, if any, further action may be necessary with regard to the DSL Betting (Cumbria) Limited, Operating Licence  number 11111.
  6. 6. Further details are available on the Allerdale Borough Council website at:  http://www.allerdale.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/council-news/news-releases.aspx?prid=1523

Further information

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