PoC bill passes into law

e-of-consumption licensing has entered into UK law after the relevant legislation was granted Royal Assent.

The Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Bill, which now needs to be implemented, will see all operators serving the UK market required to hold a Gambling Commission licence.

The Bill will alter the licensing landscape previously outlined by the Gambling Act 2005, introduced in 2007, which allowed remote gambling operators serving UK consumers to base and licence themselves offshore without the need for a UK licence.

The Bill’s parliamentary journey began with its first House of Commons reading in early May 2013, which was followed by a second reading, a Committee Debate, a Report stage and a third reading. By late November last year the legislation had progressed to the House of Lords where it passed through the same process, culminating with a third reading on 18 March.

The legislation is being introduced separately but also in parallel with a 15% place-of-consumption tax.

Minister for Sport, Helen Grant, said: “This Act marks a significant step in increasing protection to consumers based in Great Britain, by ensuring that all remote gambling operators will be subject to robust and consistent regulation.”