The Gambling Commission has implemented a new condition for licence holders, requiring the submission of regulatory returns on a quarterly basis. Effective from 1 July, this change mandates that all licensees must file their returns within 28 days of the end of each quarter.
The updated schedule means that any previous returns, including data up to 30 June 2024, are now due by either 28 July or 11 August 2024, depending on the specific operating licence. The first new reporting period runs from 1 July to 30 September 2024, with returns due by 28 October 2024.
Felix Faulkner, a solicitor at Poppleston Allen, said: “We advised all licence holders back in March to be aware of this new change, coming into effect this summer. It behoves all licensees to make sure the appropriate teams are abreast of their obligations and that all the ducks are in a row ahead of the 28 July due date.”
Last month, the Gambling Commission had been rumoured to be investigating Craig Williams, an aide to UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, for allegedly placing a bet on an election date before its official announcement. Williams confirmed that he made the bet and acknowledged the potential implications of using privileged information for personal gain.
The Gambling Commission and the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) have also introduced new measures aimed at reducing gambling-related financial harm. These include financial vulnerability checks and stricter age verification processes. The BGC’s voluntary Code on Customer Checks aims to complement these rules by providing guidelines for operator interactions with high-deposit players and implementing intervention measures for at-risk individuals.
