PoC regime delayed until November
UK government says it will postpone Point of Consumption licensing regime until 1 November to give Judge time to come to decision
Great Britain’s Point of Consumption licensing regime has been postponed by one month after the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) said it wanted to afford the Judge enough time to deliver a judgment on this week’s judicial review.
The start of the new framework, which requires operators and suppliers to obtain a licence from the Gambling Commission if transacting with British-based customers, is now due to commence on 1 November as long as the regime is given the go-ahead by the courts.
The news follows a two-day court case which saw the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association challenge the government’s and regulator’s attempts to introduce a licensing regime it deems to be both “unlawful” and “disproportionate”.
Following the hearing, Lord Justice Green said he would be unable to deliver a final judgment ahead of the original 1 October go-live date prompting the GBGA to unsuccessfully request a delay to the enforcement of the regime.
However, the DCMS today revealed it was now prepared to delay implementation of the highly controversial framework by one-month in order to afford the Judge sufficient time to deliver his verdict.
“We remain fully confident of our case, and of the significant benefits to consumer protection that the Act will bring. However to allow the Judge to reach his judgement without undue time pressure we will be taking the necessary steps to postpone the Act coming into force for one month,” a spokesperson for the DCMS said.
Speaking to eGaming Review this afternoon, a spokesperson for the GBGA welcomed the move and said it could be an indication the DCMS had woken up to the extent of the Gambling Commission’s plans.
“We welcome this extremely sensible step from the government which at least holds the ring for a short period,” the spokesperson said.
“It may be that they are beginning to understand the potential difficulties into which they have been put by the Gambling Commission in respect of this new licensing regime.”
It is not yet known what ripple effects this decision may have on other aspects of the licensing process, such at the deadline for operators to ensure their software suppliers are licensed by the Commission by 31 March.