Gambling Commissioner highlights volume of enquiries, following recently published Gambling Bill

The Gambling Commissioner says there’s been a great deal of enquiries about the recently published Gambling Bill.

The bill is yet to be debated in Parliament, but subject to this, it's expected to come into effect in October with a six month transition period.

Andrew Lyman is encouraging businesses in the gambling sector to engage with his office early, to ensure a complete understanding of the various business models the new act offers, as well as to allow such businesses to plan strategically once it’s clear on the Government’s position.

In a post on linked in, highlighting some of the main points to consider, Mr Lyman explains that existing gambling licensees with be “grandfathered” in to the new regime – but adds that those businesses will need to look and see whether any other functionality conducted in or from Gibraltar falls within the scope of the new act.

He says sections 17 to 19 of the act defines and extends the scope of Business to Customer activity (B2C) and Businesses to Business (B2B) regulated activities. He says Gambling Marketing and Holdcos are also brought within the scope.

He says CRM support in or from Gibraltar to an operation outside the jurisdiction may be a licensable B2B activity or if the external business is managed or controlled from the Rock, B2C

Mr Lyman says that there will need to be dialogue between gambling marketing companies and the Gibraltar Gambling Division regarding the process for marketing licences.

Adding that he’s committed to engage to ensure an effective and pain free transition to the new act as possible.

Meanwhile, in an interview with the Gibraltar Chronicle, the Minister with responsibility for the Gaming sector says the change is the “responsible approach to take”.

Nigel Feetham says “The last time that we put together a major piece of legislation was more than 10 years ago”, and that the “gaming industry has evolved internationally” since then.