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| Major new gambling laws in force | Major new gambling laws in force |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Sweeping gambling laws have come into force in Britain bringing casinos, bookmakers and online betting under a new regulatory body. | Sweeping gambling laws have come into force in Britain bringing casinos, bookmakers and online betting under a new regulatory body. |
| For the first time, operators will be able to advertise on TV and radio. | For the first time, operators will be able to advertise on TV and radio. |
| Opposition parties attacked the measures, saying they would trigger a growth in people addicted to gambling. | Opposition parties attacked the measures, saying they would trigger a growth in people addicted to gambling. |
| But sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe said the act provided "unprecedented powers" of control and protection for children and vulnerable gamblers. | But sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe said the act provided "unprecedented powers" of control and protection for children and vulnerable gamblers. |
| All gaming operators based in Britain will be required to show they meet strict conditions to win a licence from the new watchdog - the Gambling Commission - to trade. | All gaming operators based in Britain will be required to show they meet strict conditions to win a licence from the new watchdog - the Gambling Commission - to trade. |
| Failing to comply with conditions such as prominently displaying information about responsible gambling, will result in steep fines and even prosecution. | Failing to comply with conditions such as prominently displaying information about responsible gambling, will result in steep fines and even prosecution. |
| Radical upheaval | Radical upheaval |
| The act overhauls legislation dating from 1845 and covers all forms of gambling - worth more than £91bn to the UK economy in 2006 - from high-end casinos to arcades. | The act overhauls legislation dating from 1845 and covers all forms of gambling - worth more than £91bn to the UK economy in 2006 - from high-end casinos to arcades. |
| The Gambling Act allows the creation of more regional casinos, and bigger slot machine payouts. The National Lottery and spread betting will continue to be regulated by separate bodies. | The Gambling Act allows the creation of more regional casinos, and bigger slot machine payouts. The National Lottery and spread betting will continue to be regulated by separate bodies. |
| There is already too much social damage and cultural pollution caused by gambling. Advertising it on TV will be ramming it down our throats. Stop the adverts! Matt KilfeatherSwansea Send us your comments class="" href="/1/hi/uk/6101518.stm">'My struggle with gambling' | |
| British-based online gaming sites will be governed by the regulator. | British-based online gaming sites will be governed by the regulator. |
| But with betting duty set at 15%, doubts have been cast as to how many firms based offshore will relocate. | But with betting duty set at 15%, doubts have been cast as to how many firms based offshore will relocate. |
| The Conservative spokesman on gambling Tobias Ellwood questioned whether the act "has the teeth" to manage new types of gambling such as internet gambling and games that could be sent to children's mobile phones. | The Conservative spokesman on gambling Tobias Ellwood questioned whether the act "has the teeth" to manage new types of gambling such as internet gambling and games that could be sent to children's mobile phones. |
| GAMBLING ACT 2005: FAST FACTS New codes governing TV and radio advertising in a socially responsible wayInternet gaming will be regulated for UK-based firmsLocal authorities can impose sanctions on operatorsThe membership requirement on casinos will be liftedPoker clubs will be limited to a stake of £10 per gameBetting firms will have to display gambling helpline information online and in shopsBetting shops will be able to open from 0700 to 2200 all year round Source: Department for Culture, Media and Sport | GAMBLING ACT 2005: FAST FACTS New codes governing TV and radio advertising in a socially responsible wayInternet gaming will be regulated for UK-based firmsLocal authorities can impose sanctions on operatorsThe membership requirement on casinos will be liftedPoker clubs will be limited to a stake of £10 per gameBetting firms will have to display gambling helpline information online and in shopsBetting shops will be able to open from 0700 to 2200 all year round Source: Department for Culture, Media and Sport |
| He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Many online gambling companies will be advertising on our TVs, probably from 9pm tonight, but will already have moved to Gibraltar." | He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Many online gambling companies will be advertising on our TVs, probably from 9pm tonight, but will already have moved to Gibraltar." |
| The Liberal Democrat culture spokesman, Don Foster, said the government had "failed at every opportunity" to bring internet gambling companies onshore where they would pay tax and face proper regulation. | The Liberal Democrat culture spokesman, Don Foster, said the government had "failed at every opportunity" to bring internet gambling companies onshore where they would pay tax and face proper regulation. |
| But Peter Dean, chairman of the Gambling Commission, said the act aims to tighten industry regulation and ensure the young and vulnerable are not exploited. | But Peter Dean, chairman of the Gambling Commission, said the act aims to tighten industry regulation and ensure the young and vulnerable are not exploited. |
| He said gambling services would "have to satisfy us that their games are fair and open and crime is kept out, and that there is proper protection for children". | He said gambling services would "have to satisfy us that their games are fair and open and crime is kept out, and that there is proper protection for children". |
| £1m prize | £1m prize |
| The act will see 6,000 fruit machines in premises such as takeaway food shops and mini cab offices, where children could play with them unsupervised, be phased out by 2009. | The act will see 6,000 fruit machines in premises such as takeaway food shops and mini cab offices, where children could play with them unsupervised, be phased out by 2009. |
| Casinos said the act was an chance to clear up misconceptions | |
| Bingo halls will also no longer have to return all stakes as prize money. They will now be able to keep some money behind to offer as rollover prizes. A top prize of at least £1m has already been announced as a result of the new laws. | Bingo halls will also no longer have to return all stakes as prize money. They will now be able to keep some money behind to offer as rollover prizes. A top prize of at least £1m has already been announced as a result of the new laws. |
| But the biggest change is the lifting of the ban on TV and radio adverts, which allows gambling emporiums to reach bigger audiences. | But the biggest change is the lifting of the ban on TV and radio adverts, which allows gambling emporiums to reach bigger audiences. |
| They will be subject to a code of practice, including a 2100 watershed. | |
| National helpline | |
| One casino operator said the changes were a chance to clear up some of the "misconceptions about the industry" that have been allowed to fester. | One casino operator said the changes were a chance to clear up some of the "misconceptions about the industry" that have been allowed to fester. |
| However, the new act has attracted criticism from charities including the Salvation Army which said it feared the changes would "normalise" an addictive activity. | |
| "The results can be devastating on the individual, their friends, family, and on society," a spokesman said. | "The results can be devastating on the individual, their friends, family, and on society," a spokesman said. |
| The new ads will carry the address of a website promoting responsible gambling. | |
| But charity GamCare, which runs the only national helpline for problem gamblers, said the government "missed an opportunity" and should have insisted its telephone number was also included. | |
| The new laws come two months after plans for a super-casino in Manchester were put on hold due concerns over its impact. | The new laws come two months after plans for a super-casino in Manchester were put on hold due concerns over its impact. |