Britain and Malta teamed up this week in a bid to head off moves by EU president of France to forge a bloc-wide policy for regulating the multi-billion euro gambling industry. France put forward a discussion paper to a meeting of the bloc’s 27 industry ministers that said there were „already grounds for seeking a common approach“. In the past, gambling could be dealt with nationally, but the rise of cross-border online betting undermines this.

In the UK, the Gambling Commission has announced a change in its structure that will also see Beryl Brown, Director of Policy and Communications, leave the regulatory body after over two years. Brown’s duties are to be taken over from next week by Matthew Hill, serving in the new role of Director of Strategy Research and Analysis where he will bring together the strategic and analytical parts of the Gambling Commission…

The Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) and the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP), both independently administered by the Advertising Standards Authority, have launched new guidance for gambling advertisements in the UK, focusing on clauses common to the TV, radio and non-broadcast Codes. CAP and BCAP have consulted leading interpreters of the Code from the CAP Copy Advice team…

In the UK, the Gambling Commission has released a report detailing its activities over the past twelve months that revealed it approved 3,428 operators with 4,199 operating licenses. The Gambling Commission, which was established in 2005 and took over the role previously played by the Gaming Board for Great Britain in regulating casinos, bingo, gaming machines and lotteries, stated that some operators had been granted with both remote and non-remote licenses.

Non-remote casino licensees must follow any rules for the playing of approved casino games (or games being trialed), or other games of chance, as prescribed by the Commission in the document Rules for casino games in Great Britain. This document, originally published in August 2007, has now been revised to formally incorporate the three new casino games previously under trial…

British culture secretary Andy Burnham told MPs today that he would introduce legislation forcing licensed gambling operators of all types to donate more funding to problem gambling at the end of the year unless operators voluntary contribute more. At the moment, only about 380 of the country’s 3,800 gambling companies have been paying into the Responsibility in Gambling Trust.

It seems the time is not right for the government’s plan to launch 16 casinos, as uncertainly over its gambling policy reigns and cash-strapped casinos have other things on their mind. The question of casino policy remains unresolved. Gordon Brown, who axed proposals for a Las Vegas style super-casino shortly after becoming Prime Minister, is poised to unveil plans for 16 smaller “Gambling Palaces”.

On the 31 August 2007, the UK Gambling Commission released the rules of casino games in Great Britain. This document sets out the rules, including layouts, odds and any side bets, for each game on the list of approved games, or approved for trial. This rules aim to ensure a consistent approach in providing casino games in Great Britain. Licensees must follow any rules for the playing of approved casino games (or games being trialed), or other games of chance.