Betting and gaming
The Gambling Commission
The Gambling Commission was set up under the Gambling Act 2005 and replaced the Gaming Board. The Commission has responsibility for all gambling in Great Britain except for the National Lottery and spread betting.
The Commission are therefore responsible for casinos, bingo halls, race tracks, betting offices, family entertainment centres and adult arcades and lotteries. This responsibility includes regulating for both land based and online or remote gambling. The Commission is also responsible for advising local and central government on issues relating to gambling.
The Gambling Commission is a non departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. They operate at arms length from government and their advice is independent. The Commission's work is funded mainly by Licence fees from the gambling industry.
The Commission's primary role is to ensure the Gambling Act 2005 licensing objectives which are:-
- To keep crime out of gambling;
- To ensure that gambling is conducted fairly and openly;
- To protect children and vulnerable people.