Out-Law.com – The Gambling Commission has set out plans to ensure that the manufacture, supply, installation and adaption of gambling software is only carried out by holders of gambling software licences. However, in a slight softening of previous proposals, the regulator said that it will not require “each and every business within an extended supply chain to hold a gambling software licence”.
The restrictions are “important both to ensure the integrity of gambling software and to keep crime out of gambling”, it said.
“By 1 January 2015 operators will have to cease using gambling software manufactured, supplied, installed or adapted by any entity that should … hold a gambling software licence, but that does not hold such a licence,” the Commission said. “Operators should therefore enter into dialogue with their suppliers to ensure that relevant businesses hold a gambling software licence by 1 January 2015 and gambling software businesses should consider with their advisors whether they need a licence.”
“Gambling software businesses that will need to obtain a gambling software licence but who also run or operate the software for B2C or other B2B operators (for example those providing platforms or networks) are likely to be providing facilities for gambling. They will also need to consider if they are eligible for and indeed need a continuation licence to continue operating software used to provide facilities for gambling in Britain,” it said.
The Commission said that it would issue new guidance later this month on what it considers to constitute ‘gambling software’ and its manufacture, supply, installation and adaptation.
