.svg "Logo White")
Gambling Act 2005
Overview
The UK Gambling Act 2005 is a comprehensive law that regulates gambling in Great Britain. Enacted by Parliament, it aims to protect individuals from gambling-related harm, prevent crime, and promote fairness in gambling activities.
Regulation Summary
Timeline
- Enacted: 7 April 2005
- Full implementation: 1 September 2007
What Businesses Are Affected
- Applies to all gambling operators offering services in Great Britain.
- Includes online casinos, sports betting, lotteries, and gaming machines.
- Businesses offering gambling services to UK consumers, even if based abroad, must be licensed.
Exemptions
- Private betting among friends in non-public places.
- Small-scale, non-commercial gaming (e.g., charity bingo nights under strict limits).
- Spread betting (regulated under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000).
Responsibilities for Businesses
- Must obtain a license from the Gambling Commission.
- Implement measures to prevent underage gambling.
- Promote responsible gambling through tools and support services.
- Prevent gambling from being a source of crime or disorder.
- Comply with technical standards and codes of practice.
Specific Responsibilities for Website Owners
- Display licensing information clearly.
- Offer self-exclusion tools and access to support organizations.
- Use effective age verification systems.
- Provide clear and accurate information about games and odds.
- Implement mechanisms to detect and prevent illegal or harmful gambling activity.
Additional Requirements
- Advertising must be socially responsible and not target children.
- Operators must report suspicious activity and comply with AML regulations.
- Remote operators (online services) must maintain servers and records in accordance with Commission rules.
Individual Rights
-
Although the Gambling Act itself doesn’t directly define data rights, gambling operators must follow the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018. Rights include:
- Access to personal data
- Correction of inaccuracies
- Data portability and deletion upon request
- Right to object to certain data uses
Enforcement
- Enforced by the Gambling Commission.
- Penalties include license suspension or revocation, unlimited fines, and criminal prosecution.
- The Commission conducts audits, mystery shopper tests, and customer protection checks.
Questions?
If you would like to learn more, our compliance experts are happy to support you.
Leave us a Messagesupport@clym.io
+1 980 446 8535 +1 866 275 2596