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| New law allows casinos TV adverts | New law allows casinos TV adverts |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Bookies, casinos and betting websites will be able to advertise their services on TV and radio in the UK for the first time from this weekend. | Bookies, casinos and betting websites will be able to advertise their services on TV and radio in the UK for the first time from this weekend. |
| Under new laws which came into force on Saturday, the ads will be subject to strict rules including a 9pm watershed. | |
| The Gambling Act aims to tighten industry regulation and ensure the young and vulnerable are not exploited. | The Gambling Act aims to tighten industry regulation and ensure the young and vulnerable are not exploited. |
| Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe said councils would get "unprecedented powers" to control gambling. | Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe said councils would get "unprecedented powers" to control gambling. |
| The new laws will allow the creation of more regional casinos, bigger slot machine payouts and a new gambling watchdog. | The new laws will allow the creation of more regional casinos, bigger slot machine payouts and a new gambling watchdog. |
| Overhauling pieces of legislation dating back to 1845, the Act covers all forms of gambling from high-end casinos to arcades worth more than £9bn to the British economy. | Overhauling pieces of legislation dating back to 1845, the Act covers all forms of gambling from high-end casinos to arcades worth more than £9bn to the British economy. |
| But it will not regulate the National Lottery or spread betting. | But it will not regulate the National Lottery or spread betting. |
| 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 |
| "The government brought in the Gambling Act because most of our laws were nearly 40 years old and these developments were going unchecked and unregulated," said Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe. | "The government brought in the Gambling Act because most of our laws were nearly 40 years old and these developments were going unchecked and unregulated," said Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe. |
| "That's why 1 September is so important. The Gambling Act will give the Gambling Commission and local authorities unprecedented powers to ensure gambling is conducted fairly, children and vulnerable people are protected and crime is kept out." | "That's why 1 September is so important. The Gambling Act will give the Gambling Commission and local authorities unprecedented powers to ensure gambling is conducted fairly, children and vulnerable people are protected and crime is kept out." |
| All gaming operators based in Britain will be required to show they can meet strict conditions to win a license from the new regulator - the Gambling Commission - to trade. | All gaming operators based in Britain will be required to show they can meet strict conditions to win a license from the new regulator - 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. | 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. |
| £1m prize | £1m prize |
| The law removes 6,000 fruit machines from premises such as takeaway food shops and mini cab offices, where children could play with them unsupervised. | The law removes 6,000 fruit machines from premises such as takeaway food shops and mini cab offices, where children could play with them unsupervised. |
| These will be phased out by 2009. | These will be phased out by 2009. |
| A bingo prize of at least £1m has been announced as a result of the new laws. | A bingo prize of at least £1m has been announced as a result of the new laws. |
| This will allow casinos to become part of the mainstream leisure business Roy Ramm, director of London Clubs International | This will allow casinos to become part of the mainstream leisure business Roy Ramm, director of London Clubs International |
| 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. | 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. |
| Meanwhile, for the first time online gaming sites will also be governed by the regulator if they are located in Britain. | Meanwhile, for the first time online gaming sites will also be governed by the regulator if they are located in Britain. |
| But with betting duty set at 15% for gaming websites located in Britain, doubts have been cast as to how many firms will relocate. | But with betting duty set at 15% for gaming websites located in Britain, doubts have been cast as to how many firms will relocate. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 'Misconceptions' | 'Misconceptions' |
| However, they will be subject to a code of practice policed by the Advertising Standards Authority and media regulator Ofcom. | However, they will be subject to a code of practice policed by the Advertising Standards Authority and media regulator Ofcom. |
| 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 do a great deal to dispel a lot of myths about casino gambling 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 and do a great deal to dispel a lot of myths about casino gambling and level the playing field," Roy Ramm, director of casino operator London Clubs International told BBC Radio Five Live. |
| Mr Ramm added it was not in his firm's interest to target children or those that cannot gamble responsibly. | Mr Ramm added it was not in his firm's interest to target children or those that cannot gamble responsibly. |
| The new act has attracted criticism from charities and the Lib Dems. | The new act has attracted criticism from charities and the Lib Dems. |
| While many of the gambling reforms are welcome, the government must recognise its failure to put adequate provisions in place for the problems the act may bring Don FosterLib Dem culture spokesman | While many of the gambling reforms are welcome, the government must recognise its failure to put adequate provisions in place for the problems the act may bring Don FosterLib Dem culture spokesman |
| The Salvation Army said it feared the changes would "normalise" an addictive activity. | The Salvation Army 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. | "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." | "The results can be devastating on the individual, their friends, family, and on society." |
| The Liberal Democrats said the government had failed to put in place provisions for any problems arising from the act. | The Liberal Democrats said the government had failed to put in place provisions for any problems arising from the act. |
| The party's culture spokesman Don Foster said: "While many of the gambling reforms are welcome, the government must recognise its failure to put adequate provisions in place for the problems the act may bring. | The party's culture spokesman Don Foster said: "While many of the gambling reforms are welcome, the government must recognise its failure to put adequate provisions in place for the problems the act may bring. |
| "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." | "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." |