EXGG1515 – Introduction: Social law: Gambling Commission: What is the Gambling Commission?

The Gambling Commission (GC) was set up under the Gambling Act 2005. It has taken over the role previously played by the *Gaming Board for Great Britain in regulating casinos, bingo, gaming machines and lotteries (but not the National Lottery). As Northern Ireland was not included within the Gambling Act 2005 changes, their laws and controlling authority (Department for Social Development) remain unchanged.

From September 2007 it has had responsibility for the regulation of betting and remote gambling, as well as

• Keeping crime out of gambling
• Making sure gambling is conducted fairly and openly
• Protecting children and vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling

The GC does not regulate spread betting (the responsibility of the Financial Services Authority) or the National Lottery (regulated by the National Lottery Commission).

The amusement machine industry is a heavily regulated by the Gambling Commission.

On 31st March 2008 a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between HMRC and the Gambling Commission (see EXGG1530).

(*Note: All functions, rights and liabilities of the Gaming Board of Great Britain, transferred to the Gambling Commission with effect from 1 October 2005, under SI. 2005/2455 – Gambling Act 2005 (Commencement No 2 and Transitional Provisions) Order 2005).