Department for Culture Media and Sport
gambling and racing
We are responsible for the law regulating gambling and racing, and we sponsor the gambling and racing industries.
We are currently implementing the new Gambling Act 2005, which comprehensively updates existing gambling laws that are several decades old, providing new powers and protections for both new and old forms of gambling. Some 90% of the Act is about new protections.
The Act has three main aims:
- Keeping gambling crime free
- Making sure that gambling is fair and open
- Protecting children and vulnerable adults
Social responsibility remains the top priority – protection of the public, especially children and the vulnerable.
The Act is also underpinned by close, open and consultative working with all stakeholders – the industry; faith, belief and community groups; researchers; those dealing day to day with problem gamblers.
The "Gambling Act 2005: Transitional arrangements" publication PDF [880kb] explains the arrangements we have put in place for the commencement and implementation of the Gambling Act 2005.
By September 2007 all current gambling law for Great Britain will be replaced by the new Act.
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What's New
The Gambling Commission appoints Baroness Neuberger as Chair of the independent Strategy Board on minimising risks from gambling
Following a joint recruitment exercise by the Gambling Commission and DCMS, Baroness Neuberger was appointed Chair of the new independent Strategy Board on 28 November 2008. The board will advise the Gambling Commission and, in turn DCMS, on research, education and treatment programmes needed to support a national responsible gambling strategy. A further press release can be found on the Gambling Commission's website. [2 December 2008]
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Government welcomes 48th Horserace Betting Levy agreement
Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe has welcomed the news that the 48th Horserace Betting Levy scheme has been agreed without the need for Government determination. This annual scheme is a levy on the profits of bookmakers on betting on British horse racing that goes towards funding the sport of racing, including through prizes, veterinary science, educational initiatives and breeding programmes.
Gerry Sutcliffe said: "I welcome the fact that both sides came to an agreement and the levy does not have to go to government for determination. I would like to pay tribute both to the Independent Members of the Board for their perseverance in brokering an acceptable agreement, and to the racing and bookmaking industries for their flexibility in reaching constructive solutions to some very difficult issues.
"I also welcome the progress already made in modernising the current levy system."
A press release from the Horserace Betting Levy Board providing further details can be found on their website.
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Government announces significant progress on racecourse bookmaking
Significant progress to resolve an ongoing dispute between on course bookmakers and racecourses has been made by the Existing Betting Areas Working Party, set up by Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe and chaired by Sholto Douglas-Home. The group met seven times between January and April 2008 and included representatives of the Federation of Racecourse Bookmakers and the Racecourse Association. It agreed principles to govern entry by bookmakers to betting rings at racecourses and the allocation of bookmakers’ pitches, to be adopted as part of a new system which is expected to be introduced in 2012. The agreed princoiples included:
- The ability of bookies to trade pitch list positions, with racecourses taking a commission,
- Bookmakers paying a percentage of their annual turnover or a fixed daily fee in return for access to the betting ring, with regular reviews of the access fee and detailed contracts.
However, the Working Party could not reach an agreed position in one key area: the total length of time that existing bookmakers’ pitch list positions would be honoured by racecourses. The Government is keen for this and other outstanding issues now to be resolved in discussions between individual racecourses and the bookmakers who use them, given that the final deal will vary from racecourse to racecourse.
The attached table Existing betting areas working party: Final position statements PDF (38kb) summarises the positions of the FRB and RCA on all the key issues; those involved in indiviual discussions at racecourses may wish to use it as a guide. [30 April 2008]
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