GB supplier deadline put back two months

Great Britain’s Gambling Commission has given software providers an additional two months in which to obtain a supplier licence and comply with the market’s new licensing regime.

Operators had previously been required to ensure their gambling software was provided by a licensed supplier from 31 January 2014, however, in an update to the Commission’s FAQs, this date has now been pushed back until 31 March 2014.

The Commission had originally set the January date ““ almost four months after the operating licences go live on 1 October ““ in order to give software suppliers and operators time to adapt to the new licensing requirements.

And speaking to eGR this morning, a spokesperson for the Commission said the decision to give suppliers and operators this additional time was a “sensible” move.

“Following discussions with operators, we’ve moved the deadline for obtaining a gambling software licence to 31 March to give business more time to apply. It’s sensible work planning for the industry and ourselves,” the spokesperson said.

The new licensing regime faces a legal challenge from the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association (GBGA) after the industry body was last week was granted a judicial review of the controversial framework.

The GBGA has called the Point of Consumption regime “unlawful” and a “restriction on the freedom to provide services” as guaranteed by Article 56 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

The Commission refused to comment on the case bar to say it would be continuing to prepare for implementation of the Act on 1 October.

The deadline to apply for operating continuation licences closes at midnight tonight, however, operators can still apply for licences at a later date but would be required to pull GB-facing products from 1 October up until the point a licence had been granted.