UK gambling laws

Gambling in the United Kingdom is regulated by the Gambling Commission on behalf of the government's Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) under the Gambling Act 2005. This Act of Parliament significantly updated the UK's gambling laws, including the introduction of a new structure of protections for children and vulnerable adults, as well as bringing the burgeoning Internet gambling sector within British regulation for the first time.

The game of Bingo was popularised in the armed forces in the Second World War and brought back to Britain after the end. The Betting and Gaming Act 1960 allowed commercial bingo halls to be set up, provided they were established as members-only clubs and had to get their take from membership fees and charges rather than as a percentage of the entry fees. Casinos had a similar history, with requirement for licensing from the Gaming Board of Great Britain and for casinos to be members-only. The number of gaming machines in casinos was limited at 10.

In part due to the difficulty of enforcing this, the Gaming Act 1968 liberalised the law, by allowing true commercial casinos. The 2005 Act paved the way for larger resort style casinos to be built, albeit in a controlled manner with one being built every few years until the Act is fully implemented. Many towns and cities have bid to host one of these so-called "super casinos", which will be similar to those found in Las Vegas. The favourite location for the first is Blackpool, indeed, often referred to as the "British Las Vegas". Gaming machines have two categories depending upon the stakes and payouts involved. The former were limited to casinos, bingo halls and clubs, and the latter also permitted in pubs, cafes, arcades, etc.