Atticus Partners’ Post

The number of people being investigated by the Gambling Commission for potential ‘cheating’ when placing bets on the timing of the General Election appears to be growing. Unsurprisingly it’s been mentioned a lot in the last few days that a person commits an offence under s.42 of the Gambling Act 2005 if they ‘cheat’ at gambling. Relevant case law and the Commission seem to place weight on the use of ‘inside information’ to gain an ‘unfair advantage’. Leaving aside potential criminal sanction, what else follows? Will this affect the future of 'specials' markets? Will this add to the current review of the gambling market in the UK? Will operators be checking their terms and conditions and ensuring they can void the bets or possibly even rely on an indemnity? Will the Commission void the bets because they are ‘substantially unfair' (s.336)? Will there be other punters being investigated for the same bets? All very interesting…. (to me, anyway!) As a final point - credit to the operators involved for picking this up! Clearly their checks work.

The gambling reform in Finland moves forward. Since our last blog post with Axel Hård af Segerstad, the Finnish Ministry of the Interior has submitted a draft Government Bill of the new proposed Finnish Gambling Act for consultation. #gambling #regulatory #administrative Read the second part of our blog on the gambling reform here: https://lnkd.in/dzEXBs3w

Progress of the Gambling Regulation Bill appears to have halted for the summer recess and time is getting tight to get the Bill across the line within the lifetime of the current Government. However, the new regulator is actively engaging with various stakeholders and we discuss recent activity in our article. #ALGInsights #gamblingregulation #gamblingcompliance

The UK Government’s 2023 gambling white paper, High Stakes, sets out sector reforms considered to be the most comprehensive since the Gambling Act of 2005. The white paper estimates that 300,000 people in Great Britain are experiencing “problem gambling” and a further 1.8 million are at “elevated levels of risk”. Gaming operators would be wise to plan ahead for significantly increased compliance obligations ... even if we see a change of Government, the bar is unlikely to be lowered #whenitreallymatters 

The Danish Parliament has adopted significant amendments to the Act on Gambling aimed at bolstering the regulatory powers and effectiveness of the Danish Gambling Authority (DGA). The changes, effective from 1 July 2024, mark a substantial shift in the authority’s ability to combat illegal activities and enhance transparency within the gambling sector. The DGA now possesses improved sanction options, including the authority to issue orders and sanctions directly. Previously, the DGA could only warn license holders or refer cases to the police. If a license holder breaches the gambling legislation under the new regulations, the DGA can issue an order or a sanction. Failure to comply could result in police involvement or license revocation. Read the full story ➡ https://lnkd.in/dyQNzJvm #europe #denmark #gambling #gamblingnews #regulation

Want to know where the UK has got to with the gambling white paper, what is coming next and how to learn more? Click the link to read Harris Hagan’s latest legal eye instalment on SBC. #HarrisHagan #Gambling #gamblingnews #gamblingindustry #ICE2024 #SBCNews

Phased implementation of the first tranche of changes to Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice and Remote Technical Standards following the Gambling Commission's Summer 2023 Consultations on Gambling White Paper Reforms: https://lnkd.in/etkZ6Hkf

#InTheSpotlightFGN - Italy initiates legislative reform in online betting with proposed Reorganization Decree The recently endorsed decree aims to safeguard people susceptible to gambling risks. #Italy #legislation #onlinebetting

🇬🇧 If you missed Vixio's recent (free) webinar about the UK Gambling Act Review, it's now available to watch 'on demand' below. It’s now over a year since the white paper was published, and the review is in full swing, but several key questions remain unanswered. Robust affordability checks, the safer gambling levy, a gambling ombudsman and many more promised reforms are still to be delivered, with the arrival of a new government adding another layer of unpredictability. The webinar brought-together a panel of experts to discuss this evolving era of gambling regulation in the UK, and what it means for #gambling businesses in Britain. The panel: 🎤Joe Ewens, Vixio Regulatory Intelligence 🎤Tim Miller, Gambling Commission 🎤Sarah Fox, Department for Culture, Media and Sport 🎤Bahar Alaeddini, Harris Hagan 🎤Dan Waugh, Regulus Partners 🎥 Watch it back here: https://lnkd.in/eAjUhz4v. #gamblingregulation #gaminglaw #gamblingcompliance

With its rich history and diverse culture, Germany has a centuries-long relationship with gambling. However, the question often arises: “Is gambling legal in Germany?” The journey to the current state of gambling in Germany has seen significant transformations, moving from strict regulations and outright bans to a more organized and regulated landscape.