Gambling Commission warns of “escalating enforcement action” for breaches of new regulatory returns rules
The regulator has warned operators to complete their returns on time.
UK.- The British Gambling Commission has warned operators that they could face tougher enforcement action for repeat failures to complete regulatory returns on time under the new system of quarterly submissions. The regulator says it has already issued a spate of fines against operators who broke the deadlines for the type of activity for which they hold a licence.
Since October, more than ten businesses have been fined up to £750 each for not correctly completing and submitting regulatory returns within the required timeframe. The regulator warned of potentially steeper fines to come for repeat offenders.
Commission director of enforcement John Pierce said: “Despite early engagement and the issuing of advice notices, further failures to comply with the regulatory returns process were identified in these cases. Operators are expected to understand their reporting obligations and must ensure returns are submitted on time via our online portal.”
“Repeated breaches and persistent non-compliance is likely to result in escalating enforcement action.”
The Gambling Commission’s Licence Conditions Codes of Practice Licence Condition 15.3.1 – General and regulatory returns was updated as of July 1 last year to require all licensees to submit regulatory returns on a quarterly basis rather than on the previous annual basis. The next quarterly returns are due by April 28 and can be submitted via the eServices digital service on our website.
Any queries should be sent to [email protected]
New gambling levy
Meanwhile, the Gambling Commission has provided a full breakdown of the new British gambling levy rates that will be paid by operators according to their vertical. All licensed gambling operators must pay the new levy, which came into effect as of April 6 as part of reforms announced in the 2023 Gambling White Paper.
The rate that licensees must pay will range from 0.1 per cent of gross gambling revenue (GGR) for remote and non-remote pool betting operations, gambling machine operations and family entertainment centres to 1.1 per cent for online gambling and betting, bingo and software licensees.
