UK Gambling Commission Annual Report

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GBP 14.4 million the cost to government

Making interesting reading recently is the UK Gambling Commission's first annual report, which shows a GBP 14.4 operational cost last year as the new regulator geared up the transition of a more liberal gambling industry to the new Gambling Act 2005.

The cost to government could have been GBP1.7 million higher, but some of the organisation's recruitment costs were deferred.

The report reveals that the Commission's 218 employees have been busy drafting and consulting widely on the majority of policies that will apply when the Gambling Act comes into full effect on 1 September 2007.  At the same time the Commission continued with its normal work of regulation under the existing Acts, which will be superseded in September, while moving from offices in London to Birmingham and undertaking a major recruitment exercise.

In his report Commission chairman Peter Dean, who retires at the end of 2007, points out some of the highlights of the year.

“In my opening report as Chairman of the Gaming Board in 1999 I urged the Government to set a firm timescale for the wholesale reform of our then out-dated gambling legislation,” he said.

“It is a cause of great satisfaction that the reform has now been carried out and the Gambling 2005 placed on the statute book, with the Commission at the centre of the new regulatory system.”

“British gambling operators continue to enjoy a high reputation for integrity in this country and overseas. Over the past year, the industry and other interested parties have been bombarded with a series of the Commission’s consultation documents setting out our proposals for the new regime and inviting responses.

“Coping with this exceptional workload has at times strained the resources and patience of those involved, but the process has been invaluable and will lead to better regulation.”

In the year to March 2007 the Gambling Commission regulated gambling in casinos and bingo halls, along with society lotteries and gaming machines and had an operating expenditure of GBP 14.4m and a staff of 218 at the year end.  Full details of activity within these industry areas can be found in the Report which can be downloaded from http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/

From 1 September 2007, under the Gambling Act 2005, the Commission takes up significant new legal powers to prosecute illegal gambling and also takes on responsibility for regulating arcades, British-based remote gambling and the betting industry.