Here, we are going to take a brief look at the legislative framework surrounding gambling regulations in the UK.
From the 1960s onwards, the main types of gambling were each governed by different legislation. But, by the 90s, the pace of change in the gambling industry led to a call for new legislation. The new legislat ion which was eventually passed, also reflected the change in attitude when it comes to the gambling industry. It was first considered an unpreventable vice, but now it is being considered a form of adult entertainment instead. This is when the GRB (Gambling Review Body) was set up in the UK. It was responsible for looking at the gambling industry and how the laws needed to change in order to make them more appropriate.
In 2005, on the basis of a report submitted by the GRB, the Gambling Act was created. It was supposed to accommodate all casinos that were existing at the time the act was passed. This also made it so that local authorities couldn’t give casino licenses in their areas. But, the government finally announced that they were going to limit the licences issued for casinos to eight per region. But due to a lack of time, this number was reduced to one at the time of passing the bill.
There were three main objectives which the act was supposed to fulfill. Preventing gambling from becoming any sort of source for:
- Crime or disorder
- Being associated with crime or disorder in any way
- Ensuring all sorts of gambling is conducted in an open and fair way
- Used for supporting crime
- Protecting vulnerable persons and children from being exploited or harmed by gambling
These are all very important objectives when it comes to licensed gambling regulation. As long as the Gambling Act meets all these objectives, things should be just fine!
What you need to know about gambling laws in the UK
Online gambling is a very large part of the economy of Britain. It is one of the most popular pastimes for Brits today. The UK is home to some big bookmakers and the industry is regulated quite well in order to protect the interests of the players. There are various advantages for UK players when they are gambling at these sites. The best news however, is that all the money you have won through gambling is tax-free. Considering the number of countries out there which don’t have a stand with regard to gambling, the UK has a pretty clear stand.
Gambling is rooted quite deeply in the culture of Britain with lotteries, sports betting and bingo being a very important part of the country since the 20th century. With the rise of the Internet, a lot of these industries have moved online and quite a bit of online traffic is coming from online casinos in the UK. Gambling services can only be offered by operators licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. Before this commission existed, gambling was regulated by a number of outdated legislature pieces. All of the legislation made no sense in the world of online gambling. So it’s kind of a good thing that this changed.
The UK Gambling Commission was set up as a separate, non-departmental body funded by the Department of Culture, Media & Sport in the UK. It’s the premier authority when it comes to online gambling in the UK. It is responsible for all forms of commercial gambling in the country. It oversees every sector of gambling including betting, arcades, bingo, lotteries, casinos, gaming machines, etc. The only thing that doesn’t fall under the purview of the commission is speed betting. So, if you decide to go online and gamble in the UK, you don’t need to worry, you’re interests are very well protected.
How gambling laws contributed to the rise of online casinos in UK
The growth of casinos in the UK has been unprecedented. There are so many casinos that opened only a few years ago and are now conducting business in the millions. This has all been possible because of the ease with which online casinos can be accessed. Just 10 years ago, this was in its nascent stage, and no one could have predicted that it was going to grow at such a rate. The casinos available online nowadays offer a lot of different types of entertainment which should keep just about anyone happy.
The main reason all of this is possible is because of the relaxation when it comes to the laws that regulate gambling in the country. Casinos aren’t terrifying, no-go areas anymore. They are now considered entertainment venues which anyone can visit to have a good time. These relaxed laws are doing a lot of good to casinos in the country. This is not just online casinos we’re talking about. We’re talking about offline casinos as well.
Attendance in land-based casinos has been growing at a rapid pace since 2000. As per the UK Gambling Commission, the number of people surveyed who gambled in live casinos went from 84% in 2013, all the way to 98% by 2015.
As a direct result of this, casino revenues are going through the roof as well. There are more than 148 registered casino operators in the UK right now, and all of them are showing huge growth.
This loosening of restrictions has certainly helped this industry grow at an unprecedented rate. But, at the same time, don’t think that the relaxation in laws has made it easier for casinos to cheat you. They are regulated strictly to ensure that all players are treated fairly. So stop worrying and start gambling right now.
How gambling laws in the UK can affect you
As a resident of the UK, you will be able to have complete satisfaction and peace of mind knowing you’re gambling online in one of the safest and most regulated gambling markets in the world. The UK has a rigorous regulatory regime which is very difficult for anybody to surpass. Everything in the UK is overseen by the UK Gambling Commission. They evaluate every single licence applicant and ensure that all operators stick to teE rules and regulations which have been established by their organisation. They also make sure that all promotional offers like bonuses are presented in such a way that they aren’t ambiguous or misleading.
The strict regulations are something which all operators need to adhere to if they want to continue running their websites in the UK. Another very important step that the Commission has taken is to make sure no one below the age of 18 can gamble online. But, if you’re above the age of 18, you can gamble safely without worrying about anything at all. In order to avoid malpractice and fraud, you need to ensure that you have checked if the casino you are gambling at has been licensed by the UKGC. Just remember that this is something you need to do, and no one is going to force you to do it. But, if you want to make sure your interests are safe while you’re online, this is the only way to do it.
It is also very important that you know about the multiple organisations in the country which help with gambling addiction. This is great news for compulsive gamblers. One other benefit of being a UK gambler, is that all of your winnings are tax-free. This means you get to keep every single penny that you earn. But, the government does tax operators. So you’re actually getting the bigger slice of the pie.