Overall, the UK has a well-regulated gambling market, which ensures that operators play by the rules and that customers are protected from harm. For example, it is illegal to target children with advertising for gambling products, and all advertising must include responsible gaming messages. In addition to these laws, there are also a number of restrictions on advertising and marketing in the UK. This tax is levied at a rate of 15% on all gross gaming revenue, and has been in effect since December 2014. The Gambling Act 2014 made a number of changes to UK gambling law, most notably introducing a new point-of-consumption tax on all gambling operators who serve customers in the UK.
In addition, certain types of gambling, such as betting on horse racing, are exempt from the licensing requirements of the Gambling Act 2005. While the Gambling Act 2005 generally prohibits gambling without a license, there are a number of exceptions to this rule.įor example, “small lotteries”, which have a maximum prize value of £20,000, do not require a license. These Acts set out the general framework for gambling in the UK, and establish the Gambling Commission as the primary regulator of gambling in the country. The most important of these are the Gambling Act 2005 and the Gambling Act 2014. In the United Kingdom, gambling is regulated by a number of different laws.
What the current gambling laws are in the UK
