UK Gambling Laws

Your visit to the city of London or Manchester can just not be complete without you visiting any one of the casinos. Specifically now, as the gambling laws have been relaxed, a ‘punter’ in literal terms can have a ‘relaxed’ visit to the casino and play the game he wants. ‘Relaxed’ may be a pun in the context as Casinos brim with action at all times. One thing is for sure, UK Gambling Laws have been formed now in such a way that gambling can indeed be treated as a fun activity.

What are the UK Gambling Laws?

o Establishment a single regulatory authority – The latest change to the UK Gambling Laws has been to establish a single regulatory authority that will regulate and monitor the activity of gambling in the United Kingdom. This authority will regulate and prescribe rules to entities that promote and conduct gambling activities.

o The UK Gambling Commission – In the United Kingdom, it is believed now that the word gambling starts and ends with “The UK Gambling Commission”. This is the single regulatory authority which we discussed a while before. The UK Gambling Commission’s major role is to provide licenses to all the gambling operators. With workers in casinos and gambling outlets a major factor to customer’s experience, the commission also regulates licenses to key workers in the gambling outlets.

o Tests for Gambling Operators – Gambling operators in the UK have never had it so tough in the UK to get their licenses. Now, it is mandatory for the gambling operators to undergo a three part test also known as the Fit and Proper Test. This is done for them to get an operating license. The Fit and Proper test examines the applicant’s suitability to the role, financial stability, knowledge and competence in gambling. The applicant is required to pass all the three examinations to be considered eligible to get the operating license. The UK Gambling Commission conducts monitoring and inspection activities on the applicant and the casino. This is a due diligence activity carried out by the UK Gambling Commission to ensure that all the standards prescribed to the gambling operators are met consistently.

o Licenses for Corporate clients – Should you be a director of a casino, you would be considered as a corporate client. In all probabilities, you and other key members of your management team would need to undergo a test conducted by the UK Gambling Commission.

As per the new gambling laws in the UK, every application is thoroughly examined, monitored and if necessary, the candidates would be interviewed before an operating license is given to the individual or the entity.

If people think that all these laws have been introduced to shy people away from opening and visiting casinos, they are wrong. The objective of restructuring the UK Gambling Laws is to ensure that gambling no longer is considered an illegal activity. Now, if you are in UK, you do not need to hide from the cops if you wish to go gambling.

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The Credit Crunch is Doing Little to Stem Rising Number of Britons Gambling Online

More Britons than ever before are trying their hand at online gambling despite the ever worsening economic climate. This comes as no surprise to me, as the credit crunch has meant that more and more people are opting to stay in rather than go out, and what better way is there for people to spend their time indoors then by winning money!

The results of an extensive survey by the UK Gambling Commission released in recent weeks have shown that the quality of online gaming sites and the prizes, bonuses and jackpots on offer continue to attract hoards of players due to their increase in potential monetary value.

Research conducted by ICM show that a survey dealt with last year (including the final quarter of the year when recession loomed) found an increase in the amount of people who said they had used one remote form of gambling or another.

The news will come as a major boost to the online gambling sector within the UK as it prepares for a difficult year with the current economic climate looking to worsen before it finally resides.

The Commission’s study revealed that a whopping 9.7 percent of the 8,000 adults surveyed had gambled using a computer, mobile phone or interactive/digital television set over the last month. This compares with 8.8 percent for 2007 and 7.2 percent for 2006.

The trend seems to be that – as gambling online becomes more accessible thanks to the likes of 3G mobile technology and improvements in digital TV people are spending more time gambling online than ever before.

This trend is likely to continue as long as the recession bites which will benefit the online casino industry tenfold during these hard times.

Erim Jones

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