An early conference session at today’s London Affiliate Conference heard that UK Gambling laws being transformed due to “a massive fuck up” in the original licensing process. Attendance at the intriguing session was thin on the ground after what was a heavy night at last night’s affiliate awards. The words of wisdom came from Steve Donoghue, who’s been working in the governance of gambling law for the past 15 years – including time as a special advisor to the current DCMS select committee on gambling.
His opinion was that the legislation is only changing due to the ‘f up’ mentioned earlier which was in large part down to the government rushing through the legislation. The rumor is rushing the regulations they were so badly written that any country could get on there without too much of a problem. The Gambling Commission itself didn’t, according to Donoghue, check over any of the jurisdictions before they were authorized and as such the DCMS allowed them a free reign.
In government, Donoghue acknowledged that it’s universally thought that the “white list got messed up as Antigua go on it.” He later adding Jersey is now experiencing problems due to the “intransigence” that means they’re not being allowed to get on to what the government are now likely calling the “shite list” due to the problems it’s caused them.
There’s still not a mention by anyone connected to the government as to what the tax rate will be set at when it goes through and Donoghue admitted that it must go through soon. He mentioned that it’ll need to be included in this year’s Queen’s Speech in May to have any chance. There were a number of reasons given for this including an imminent reshuffle this summer and the possibility that the department is abolished. The Olympic Games have a huge bearing on this and if it’s successful the department will stay intact. If not the fire sale begins with Donoghue of the opinion that it’ll go way of the business department or back to the Home Office – basically wherever the treasury sees fit to hide it.
