Last Friday was the deadline given by the Gaming Board for Great Britain for any preliminary views or comments on its ‘An Introductory Guide to the Gambling Commission’, which in two parts outlines a new regulatory approach and gives more information about some topics and the Commission’s policy on licensing and regulation. The Gambling Act 2005 places responsibility for the regulation of all commercial gambling in Great Britain (except spread betting and the National Lottery) with the Gambling Commission, which will take on its new powers in stages. It is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2007, by when the old licences will cease to have effect.

Throughout the rest of 2005 a series of meetings and informal workshops on local authority guidance, licence conditions and codes of practice will be held with stakeholders and interested parties, including the relevant industry sectors and those with an interest in problem gambling. This will help the Commission develop its approach to regulation and the policy for each code of practice. By the end of 2006 draft licence conditions and draft codes of practice will have been made available publicly for consultation. The transition team charged with managing the changeover from Gaming Board to Gambling Commission, believe that this year’s Betting Show provides them with an ideal opportunity to widen the process of continuous dialogue with the betting industry, as decreed by Government when the Gambling Act 2005 was passed.

The Gambling Commission, which will be headquartered in Birmingham, will be officially launched in October 2005. The current chairman of the Gaming Board for Great Britain is Peter Dean, who is also the chairman of the new Gambling Commission. The Birmingham NEC Pavilion is to be the venue for this year’s Betting Show, organised by ATE, which takes place 19-20 October. Peter Dean will make one of his first public addresses as the chairman of the Gambling Commission, and will explain its new scope and regulatory approach in terms of licensing, codes of practice and the on-going consultation process.

The Betting Show, in its third year, will have the full spectrum of land-based and interactive products from the most dynamic and inventive suppliers in the industry. In 2004 visitor numbers were up by 22% and industry professionals came from all over the world. For the betting industry, driven ever faster into more exciting and profitable areas by technological changes, The Betting Show will be a great place to keep up to speed with developments. It is, after all, ‘the ONLY show in Europe for EVERYONE in the betting industry.’ (E-08.01.05)

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