Gambling Act Enforcement Delayed by a Month

The government has delayed the date that the new Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act is to be brought into force. It was scheduled to be applicable from October 1st but has been moved back to November 1st.

The delay is the result of a legal challenge brought against the Act. The challenge has been brought by the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association (GBGA). The GBGA is challenging the government’s assertion that the changes in regulation contained in the Act will deliver benefits to consumers. It has described the proposals as “illegitimate, disproportionate and discriminatory”.

A spokesperson for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has said that they remain fully confident of their case but have delayed the date that the Act comes into force to allow the judge to reach a verdict without “undue time pressure.”

The changes outlined in the Act require that businesses that want to advertise to consumers in Great Britain obtain a license from the Gambling Commission first. There are also a number of changes to licensing conditions that remote operators will have to meet; these include a controversial ‘point of consumption’ tax.