The implementation of the Gambling Act 2005 introduced the
biggest shake up of gambling law in Britain for over 40
years. Making gambling contracts enforceable reversed a legal
principle that had been in force for over 150 years since the
Gaming Act 1845. This has and will have a profound effect of
the gaming and betting industries in particular. Together
with the requirements in the Licence Conditions and Codes of
Practice regarding the content and fairness of gambling operators'
terms and conditions, the nature of the relationship with the
customer and the potential liability of the operator has undergone
an irreversible change.
Our Gambling team has advised extensively on the meaning
and effect of these legal changes and provided training to
organisations such as the Independent Betting Arbitration Service
which are specifically impacted by the new laws. Our
paper on the
subject reveals some of the important issues that arise now a
gambling contract is, in many respects, like any other contract for
services.
