Gambling Commission and LACORS agree new joint approach to supervising gambling industry

The Gambling Commission and licensing authorities have published an updated concordat that is designed to ensure the smooth supervision of the gambling industry.

The agreement is intended to establish a common understanding of the responsibilities of the Commission and licensing authorities under the Gambling Act 2005.

Facilitated by the Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services (LACORS), the Concordat is also a response to the Hampton Review in 2009, which called for improved co-operation between the bodies responsible for regulating the gambling industry.

The agreement spells out that it is up to licensing authorities to ensure that gambling premises comply with the Commission’s guidelines and with their own three-year licensing policy.

In a statement, it explained that “whilst the Commission is required by the Act to permit gambling so far as it thinks is reasonably consistent with the licensing objectives and to publish guidance regarding licensing authorities exercising their powers, the authorities should aim to permit premises to be used for gambling, provided that the licensing objectives are met.”

The Commission said that “for its part, [it] will strive to minimise the regulatory burden on the industry and to allow for local authorities’ variations in their approach”.

The Concordat is based on a set of principles to help the gambling industry comply with the 2005 Act. The main aims are “to prevent gambling from being a source of crime and disorder, to ensure that it is fair and open, and above all, to protect children and vulnerable individuals from being exploited or harmed by gambling”.

A set of protocols detailing how these principles will be met is to be published shortly.