Poll results: GBGA right to contest UK Gambling Bill
Respondents to this week's poll back the Gibraltar operator association's legal challenge to new regulatory framework
The Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association (GBGA) is justified in its attempts to see the recently passed UK Gambling Bill quashed via the courts, according to the majority of eGaming Review readers.
Almost 63% of respondents to this week’s poll backed the GBGA’s legal opposition to a framework which seeks to regulate the UK on a Point of Consumption basis, with the regime set to commence on 1 October.
In an open letter addressed to the government and Gambling Commission, the GBGA claimed the Bill was “unlawful” and “unworkable” and Dan Tench, partner at law firm Olswang, said the Bill contravenes European Law.
“All this Act achieves is a wholly unjustified, disproportionate and discriminatory interference with the right to free movement of services, a right enshrined in European Law,” Tench said.
The GBGA has given the parties until 16 July to respond and warned that should this deadline not be met, it will have little other option than to request a judicial review of the Bill.
However, according to the remaining 37% of respondents the GBGA’s challenge is misguided and may even go on to harm to the industry.
The contest comes at a time when the UK-facing industry is under the political spotlight with the government currently conducting a review of the gambling advertising code while the row concerning high street FOBTs and planning laws continues to rumble on.
Of the GBGA’s 20-plus members, William Hill, Ladbrokes and bet365 have all taken the decision to play no part in the industry body’s challenge.