The UK Gambling Commission has launched a new online application method aimed at simplifying the license application process and reducing costs ahead of the proposed licensing changes due to take place at the end of the year.
The Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Bill 2013-14 might be moving through the UK Parliamentary procedure with about as much gusto as an ants fart, but the UK Gambling Commission are not sitting by idly whilst the politicians read and re-read the same document a thousand times.
Instead, they have created a new online application service for operators wishing to apply for a remote license for the first time, and don’t hold a remote gambling license, or any other form of remote gambling permit from a European Economic Area (EEA) or white listed jurisdiction.
The new service is mandatory. However, if companies already hold a non-remote license and wish to apply for a remote license, then the firms must continue to use the manual application forms as before – applications purely for non remote licenses are also still being fed through the manual system.
It’s believed the new process will become one of the most efficient in the world with the use of the Multi-Jurisdictional Business Form (MJBF) ensuring standardization, and parity, across all submissions. The new form was designed and developed by the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR).
The Commission believes the new service will reduce costs, which will eventually lead to reduced regulatory costs for operators.
Speaking about the new service, Gambling Commission licensing manager Dawn Best said: “This further development of online services for operators builds on the introduction of eServices in 2013. It’s always been our aim to enable license applicants to make applications online and this is the first step towards that.”
The system is the first in many changes as the UK gears up for the introduction of the new licensing system and Point of Consumption Tax (POC) due to be implemented at the end of the year.
