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New law allows casino TV adverts Major new gambling laws in force
(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. Sweeping new gambling laws have come into force in Britain bringing casinos, bingo halls, bookmakers and online betting under a new regulatory body.
Under new laws now in force, the ads will be subject to strict rules including a 9pm watershed. For the first time, operators will be able to advertise on TV and radio.
The Gambling Act aims to tighten industry regulation and ensure the young and vulnerable are not exploited. Opposition parties attacked the measures, saying they would trigger a growth in people addicted to gambling.
Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe said councils would get "unprecedented powers" to control gambling. But sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe said the act provided "unprecedented powers" of control and protection for children and vulnerable gamblers.
The new laws will allow the creation of more regional casinos, bigger slot machine payouts and a new gambling watchdog. 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.
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. 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.
But it will not regulate the National Lottery or spread betting. Radical upheaval
Overhauling pieces of legislation dating back to 1845, the act covers all forms of gambling - worth more than £9bn a year to the UK economy - 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.
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 Send us your comments
British-based online gaming sites will start to be governed by the regulator.
But with betting duty set at 15%, there are concerns many firms will be encouraged to 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.
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
"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. 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.
"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." The Liberal Democrats said the government had failed to put in place provisions for any problems arising from the act.
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. 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."
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. But Peter Dean, chairman of the Gambling Commission, said the act aimed to tighten industry regulation and ensure the young and vulnerable were 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.
"There are strict rules about what machines are allowed and we have technical standards that have to be observed."
£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 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.
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. This will allow casinos to become part of the mainstream leisure business Roy Ramm, director of London Clubs International class="" href="/1/hi/uk/6101518.stm">'Struggle' with web gambling
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. A top prize of at least £1m has already been announced as a result of the new laws.
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.
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' They will be subject to a code of practice policed by the Advertising Standards Authority and media regulator Ofcom, including a 9pm watershed.
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... 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. 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 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
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 new laws come two months after plans for a super-casino in Manchester were thrown into doubt when Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced a review of the government's policy.
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. A report on the "social effects" of gambling is due this month.
"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."