The 2014 changes covered both traditional forms of gambling and expanded to include online gambling. The changes also included offshore firms that provided gambling services to British subjects.
Key Features of Gambling Licenses in the UK
In almost every case, you must complete a gambling license application and submit it to the Gambling Commission before providing gambling services. There are strict licensing standards enforced by the commission. The set of guidelines is called the License Conditions and Codes of Practice, or LCCP. Under the LCCP’s guidelines, an applicant for a license must meet the following criteria:
- The person must offer fair and open gambling.
- The person must never exploit, harm, or otherwise use children in any way, and children are not allowed to partake in the gambling activities.
The person must offer assistance programs, 12-step or otherwise, to help gamblers who develop an addiction or other gambling problem.
These criteria apply to all gambling operations, whether they are owned by individuals or businesses. In addition to fulfilling these three criteria, gambling operators have an obligation to help stop criminal activity that is connected to gambling, including money laundering and the funding of terrorism.
That means that whoever owns or administers a gambling operation must keep accurate and detailed records of all transactions. Operators must also make a good-faith effort to spot any trends that would indicate criminal activity. It must be stressed that there is no minimum financial threshold for such activity. Were an operator to discover such activity, he or she should immediately report it to the appropriate authorities.
The Different Licensing Categories
Because of the idiosyncrasies of the various forms of gambling, it was necessary to enact slightly different guidelines for each. The LCCP recognizes the following eight categories:
- Arcades
- Betting
- Bingo
- Casinos
- Gambling software
- Gaming machines
- Lotteries and fundraising
- Remote
Prospective gambling operation owners should familiarize themselves with the applicable documents so that he or she has no problems.
Gambling License Costs
The amount of fees you must pay to operate a gambling establishment of any kind are governed different factors, including your annual gross receipts, type of establishment, or even number of establishments, among others. For example, if you run a remote gambling website that allows patrons to bet on horse races, earn more than 500,000 pounds but fewer than 5 million pounds, your fee for the year would be 7,169 pounds. If, instead, you operate a string of betting parlors that allow patrons to bet on horse races, it’s the number of parlors that you own that controls your fee. If, for example, you were to own nine betting parlors, your fee would only be 977 pounds. To find out the specifics regarding your particular gambling operation, start here and then click the applicable link for your specific establishment category. The Gambling Commission has proposed a new set of fee guidelines for 2017 but has not yet voted on or enacted the legislation. Prospective owners of gambling operations should peruse the proposition so that they can plan effectively for 2017 and beyond.
Why Valsen
- Valsen will assist to complete every form for each process in the best way we know how (Based on our many years’ experience with various regulators and service providers across the world)
- We are very hands on in the post filing period checking with re regulator and service providers and updating you regularly. Any queries raised by the regulators and service providers during processing will be quickly synthesized by us and we shall craft the right responses to move the process forward fast.
- We have a full in-house compliance support for all compliance requirements with the regulator and service providers
- Through our extensive network, we provide sign up services with major service providers including but not limited to; Liquidity providers, technology providers, custodians, prime brokers, legal advisors, auditors, payment gateway providers among others.