UK licensing timetable slips again
LCCP publication indicates new framework not likely until September as Gambling Bill waits for Royal Assent
The pending UK Point of Consumption (POC) licensing regime could be delayed until September after the regulator revealed legislation is unlikely to be passed into law for at least another month.
The Gambling Commission yesterday published part one of a three-part update to its licence conditions and codes of practice (LCCP), in which it stated that the Gambling Bill, a precursor to the PoC regime, will have to wait until May before it receives Royal Assent.
The Commission has consistently stated the date of implementation would be reliant upon the Bill’s parliamentary process and has been working on a go-live date of “at least three months” from the date of Royal Assent.
In this circumstance, the new regime is now likely to come into effect during September, although late August remains a possibilitity. Either way, implementation will come considerably later than earlier indications of early summer.
The Bill completed its passage through both the House of Commons and Lords last month, with many expecting the Royal rubber-stamp to be applied almost immediately.
A bill can be passed into law within hours of its final reading, however, it is understood that Parliament is prepared to wait until a sufficient number of bills are queued-up in order to pass a multiple number in one sitting.
The publication of the LCCP responses highlighted a number of changes to the code for remote and land-based operators, with more remote-specific updates scheduled for the end of the month.
Yesterday’s amendments included a requirement for operators to inform the Commission of the result of any licence applications to other jurisdictions, for all operators to provide access to key equipment and data within five days of notice and that key equipment should only be moved to another jurisdiction if granted by the Commission.
Audrey Ferrie, legal director and gaming lawyer at Pinsent Masons said the changes would result in further regulatory burdens being placed on UK-facing operators.
“The point I draw from all this is that there is a tightening up of the provisions and increasing regulation and responsibility for licensees,” Ferrie said.
Last month, eGaming Review revealed the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association was preparing to file for a judicial review of the regulatory regime which could result in further delays to its implementation date.