The Gambling Minister has confirmed the Statutory Levy will come into effect on 6 April, with the first payment due 1 October, in a speech to the BGC which was careful to avoid much-needed clarity on when the White Paper’s recommendations will be enacted.
Baroness Twycross has claimed the government is working “as quickly as we can” to provide clarity to the industry by enacting the recommendations of the White Paper, in a speech delivered as part of the Betting and Gaming Council’s AGM on 27 February.
During her address, the Gambling Minister confirmed the Regulatory Levy would come into effect in April, but despite promising “significant progress on key reforms” she was only able to add that further legislation would be passed “as soon as possible.”
In fairness, whether this will cut it with the industry, the regulator and all interested parties involved in the gambling sector is dubious at best. The government was handed a Gambling Act Review ready to go on 5 July, and it was universally backed by its own shadow department at that time.
So what’s the deal with the GAR delay?
It’s a question that Twycross is happier to park; her objective a the BGC AGM was to confirm what has been delivered.
“I am pleased to be able to update you on significant progress on key reforms that deliver on the Government’s agenda,” said Twycross. “I am sure many of you will have followed the progress of the statutory gambling levy in Parliament over the last few weeks.”
“The legislation has been affirmed by both Houses and became law on Tuesday this week. It will come into force on 6 April and operators will be required to make their first levy payments by 1 October.”
With online slot stake limits also made law on 25 February, Twycross added that the £5 limit will come into force on 9 April, and the £2 limit for young adults on 21 May.
Beside the latest regulatory amendments, Twycross told attendees that her department is “moving forward with measures to modernise the regulations for land-based casinos.”
“These changes will allow casinos to offer up to 80 gaming machines, mirroring the rules for small 2005 Act casinos. There will be a sliding scale of machine entitlements, meaning that smaller casinos can also benefit from more machines, commensurate with their size.”
“We will also allow sports betting in all casinos, giving operators the opportunity to expand their product offering. These changes will unlock investment in the casino sector and should provide an economic boost for both operators and machine manufacturers. We are working as quickly as we can to ensure that legislation is laid in Parliament as soon as possible.”
“I will keep listening and look forward to working with you all to realise our shared vision of a better, safer gambling industry. I hope you are all as keen as I am to take these challenges on.”
Keen yes; confident no. The government must act with a greater intensity and pace to get the GAR over the line – and in line – with the proposals supported by all parties as long ago as last spring. The growing uncertainty has not only driven confidence levels down in industry circles, but it is also threatening an effective modernisation schedule for businesses going forward.
After five plus years of arduous, tedious and at times the dumbest debate about gambling reforms, the notion that a UK government is working “as quickly as we can” does not engender the greatest of confidence – particularly given a painful five-plus year wait.
