|
Island Ahead of the Game 18 June 2004 The United Kingdom’s Department for Culture, Media and
Sport yesterday released its response to the First Report of the Joint Committee
on the draft Gambling Bill which proposes to introduce tough new controls on
high prize gaming machines and new powers for local authorities to stop casinos
opening in their areas among other new powers that will be introduced as part of
the United Kingdom Government’s modernisation of
Britain’s Gambling Laws.
In this connection the Isle of Man Government’s
Department of Home Affairs being the equivalent body to the United Kingdom’s
Department for Culture, Media and Sport, in as far as
the Gambling industry is concerned, has welcomed the proposed changes in the
United Kingdom. Most of the changes to the United Kingdom gambling laws will
bring controls in line with what has been place in the Island for many years.
The changes include the banning of fruit machines from unlicensed premises such
as minicab offices and takeaways. In the Isle of Man the siting of these
controlled machines have been limited to premises such as Public Houses, Arcades
and Hotels and other controlled areas since the mid 1980’s.
In addition the Bill proposes to introduce measures to protect children from
gambling and in this connection in the Island no person under the age of 16 may
enter an area with controlled machines unless accompanied by an adult. The Isle
of Man Gambling Control Commission is also mindful of problem gambling and
social behaviour surrounding the Gambling industry.
As previously mentioned the proposed legislation introduces additional powers to
prevent Casinos setting up. In the Isle of Man the number of land based Casinos
is already restricted by statute to a maximum of two. In addition in the United
Kingdom the provision of guest entrance to casinos is to be removed which has
been the case in the Isle of Man for many years and where all entrants have to
have membership.
The Bill will introduce capping on the unlimited prizes of slot machines and
restrict the number of machines in all casinos. In the Isle of Man the Gambling
Control Commission controls the number of machines and the level of prize of
each machine.
The proposals also introduce a new Gambling Commission which takes the place of
the Gaming Board of Great Britain the Gaming Control Commission in the Isle of
Man has been in existence for 40 years and was renamed the Gambling Control
Commission in 2001. The United Kingdom is also introducing additional controls
on new forms of gambling technology which have been in place in the Isle of Man
re its On-Line Gambling Regulation Act since 2001.
The Department welcomes the proposed changes in the United Kingdom and is of the
view that the additional regulations if approved will prove beneficial to the
United Kingdom as they have in the Isle of Man. More stories >>>
|
