Remote Gambling

Since that time, with massive growth in both broadband penetration and consumer confidence in e-commerce generally, the industry has grown beyond recognition, with an ever-increasing range of jurisdictions introducing new regulatory and licensing regimes. Whilst that has served to expand opportunities in certain parts of the world for those involved in the sector, legislation elsewhere has had the opposite effect.

For the remote gambling operator and software supplier to the remote gambling industry, we are able to provide a complete service, not only taking care of all the gambling, regulatory and compliance issues that might arise, but also providing wide-ranging commercial advice in relation to the key issues which affect those acting within this sector. Our clients include online casino and betting operators, software developers and licensors and payment processing providers.

Our advice to remote gambling operators covers such issues as:

• The “key equipment” in Great Britain which is currently required to be licensed by the Gambling Commission;

• The circumstances in which gambling software developers require a licence from the Gambling Commission;

• Applications to the Gambling Commission for Operating Licences and variations to and continuation (on a change of control occurring) of existing Operating Licences;

• Applications to the Gambling Commission for Personal Management Licences (in situations where a person has responsibility for:

o overall strategy & delivery of gambling
operations;

o financial planning, control & budgeting;

o marketing & commercial development;

o regulatory compliance;

o gambling related IT provision & security;

• Advice on notification and reporting requirements pursuant to the Gambling Act 2005 and the Gambling Commission’s “Licence Conditions and Code of Practice”;

• Defending applications for review of Operating or Personal Management Licences;

• The advertising dispensations available to operators licensed in EEA Member States, Gibraltar and white listed jurisdictions (presently the Isle of Man, Alderney, Tasmania and Antigua & Barbuda);

• The restrictions currently preventing remote gambling operators from advertising to, or transacting with, consumers in various international jurisdictions;

• Applications for remote gambling licences not only in Great Britain, but also in such popular jurisdictions as Alderney, the Isle of Man, Gibraltar and Malta. We also have excellent working relationships with specialist gaming lawyers in other jurisdictions, enabling detailed joined-up advice to be given to clients;

• The probable outcome of a British Government review of remote gambling, including, for example, the merits of being licensed in both a currently white listed jurisdiction and in Great Britain;

All of the above demands of those involved in, or servicing the requirements of, the remote gambling sector a very considerable degree of flexibility and foresight. With the benefit of the knowledge and experience gained from close involvement in this field since the mid-1990s, we are extremely well-placed to advise clients – whether in the betting, gaming or lottery field – wishing to take advantage of the increasing range of opportunities, and wishing to take precautions against the daunting new hurdles, likely to arise in what is an ever-changing regulatory landscape.