UK licence applications to be sped up by regulator references
Response to licence application consultation reveals UK Gambling Commission will look to obtain operator references to assist with licence applications
Online gambling firms could have their application for a UK licence fast-tracked after the country’s Gambling Commission confirmed it will request ‘statement of insurance’ references from overseas regulators.
In its recent response to the remote operating licence application consultation, which took place late last year, the Commission said it had been working closely with a number of regulators in order to avoid duplication when the UK application process opens later this year.
Under proposed legislation within the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Bill, all egaming operators and suppliers with UK-based customers will have to apply for a licence from the Commission.
To assist with the processing of an estimated 200 applications, the Commission will accept a statement of assurance from other regulators in order to assess applicants against its own set of suitability criteria.
The Commission will then use the statement in tandem with information gathered during the application process to form an opinion of an applicant’s suitability to hold a remote operating licence with the Commission.
“The Commission expects applicants to either arrange for their regulator to provide the statement of assurance directly to the Commission or to obtain the statement themselves and submit it with the application to the Commission,” the regulator stated.
On the whole, the Commission’s response to the consultation, which included views from operators Betfair, Sky Betting & Gaming and bwin.party, as well as trade associations Remote Gambling Association (RGA) and the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association, threw up few surprises.
“We were already well aware of the positions that were going to be adopted by potential respondents and, more importantly, what the responses from the Gambling Commission were likely to be,” Clive Hawskwood, RGA chief exec, told eGaming Review.
“So certainly no surprises and the aim now is to tie down as many loose ends as possible before the licensing window opens later this year,” he added.
The Commission confirmed it will implement an ‘online only’ application system and introduce a multi-jurisdictional business form, despite one trade body opposing the move due to the intentions of too few jurisdictions to adopt it.
The regulator also added that the revised application process will be introduced early this year and will notify the industry of the exact date in the weeks to come.
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