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Major new gambling laws in force Major new gambling laws in force
(30 minutes later)
Sweeping gambling laws have come into force in Britain bringing casinos, bingo halls, bookmakers and online betting under a new regulatory body.Sweeping gambling laws have come into force in Britain bringing casinos, bingo halls, 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 now be required to show they can 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.
Failure to uphold the commission's licensing conditions, which includes the prominent display of information about responsible gambling and anti-money laundering procedures, 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 upheavalRadical upheaval
Overhauling pieces of legislation dating back to 1845, the act covers all forms of gambling - worth more than £91bn in turnover 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 will allow the creation of more regional casinos, bigger slot machine payouts but 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 commentsThere 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
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 the 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 SportGAMBLING 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 Democrats said the government had failed to put in place provisions for any problems arising from the act. 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 party's culture spokesman Don Foster said: "There has been a huge surge in online gambling but ministers have failed at every opportunity to bring internet gambling companies onshore where they would pay tax and be properly regulated."
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".
"There are strict rules about what machines are allowed and we have technical standards that have to be observed."
£1m prize£1m prize
The new law also removes 6,000 fruit machines from premises such as takeaway food shops and mini cab offices, where children could play with them unsupervised. 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.
These will be phased out by 2009.
This will allow casinos to become part of the mainstream leisure business Roy Ramm, director of London Clubs International 'Struggle' with web gamblingThis will allow casinos to become part of the mainstream leisure business Roy Ramm, director of London Clubs International 'Struggle' with web gambling
Bingo halls will 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.
For most gambling emporiums, the biggest change is the lifting of the ban on TV and radio adverts, which will allow them to reach a bigger audience. 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 policed by the Advertising Standards Authority and media regulator Ofcom, including a 9pm watershed. They will be subject to a code of practice, including a 9pm watershed.
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.
"This will allow casinos to become part of the mainstream leisure business and... level the playing field," Roy Ramm, director of casino operator London Clubs International told BBC Radio Five Live. "This will allow casinos to become part of the mainstream leisure business," said Roy Ramm, director of London Clubs International.
The new act has attracted criticism from charities such as the Salvation Army which said it feared the changes would "normalise" an addictive activity.The new act has attracted criticism from charities such as the Salvation Army which said it feared the changes would "normalise" an addictive activity.
"Gambling is not a normal leisure activity. Whilst some people enjoy a flutter or bet from time to time, gambling can become addictive and cause many problems," a spokesman said. "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." 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 thrown into doubt after Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced a review of the government's policy. A report on the "social effects" of gambling is due this month.