Blog

Sign up to our blog and get updates from Harris Hagan

Latest

1 December 2021

Gambling Commission consultation on the Licensing, compliance and enforcement policy statement: Proposed changes to licensing

On 17 November 2021, the Gambling Commission launched a consultation proposing changes to its Licensing, compliance and enforcement policy (the...

Bahar Alaeddini

1 December 2021

Chambers Gaming Law 2021 Global Practice Guide

Partners, Julian Harris and Bahar Alaeddini, return to their roles as Contributing Editors to the Chambers Global Practice Guide and...

Ting Fung

25 November 2021

Harris Hagan retains Band 1 ranking in Chambers and Partners

We are delighted to announce that Harris Hagan has been ranked in Band 1 of Chambers and Partners UK for...

Ting Fung

9 August 2021

Update on the Commission’s Regulatory Panel Reform Consultation

The Consultation In May 2020, we wrote about the Gambling Commission’s (the “Commission”) consultation on a change in approach to...

Jemma Newton

22 June 2021

Consultation response: Gambling Commission fees to increase from 1 October 2021

On 14 June 2021 the UK Government issued its response to a consultation by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media...

Jemma Newton

16 June 2021

Update on the Remote Customer Interaction Consultation

Background On 25 May 2021, the Gambling Commission of Great Britain (“the Commission”) provided an update regarding its Remote Customer...

Jemma Newton

13 May 2021

The Personal Management Licence regime: An impossible tightrope?

This article was co-authored by Tom Orpin-Massey from QEB Hollis Whiteman Chambers. Introduction Personal management licences (“PMLs”) issued by the...

David Whyte

11 May 2021

The Affordability Debate (3): Regulating beyond its means?

This is the third in a series of articles considering different aspects of the affordability debate. We have already considered...

Julian Harris

22 April 2021

The Affordability Debate (2): Ambiguous Regulatory Requirements

Following the closure of the Gambling Commission’s (the “Commission”) consultation Remote customer interaction – Consultation and Call for Evidence (the...

David Whyte

31 March 2021

Gambling Commission Consultation Response on Online Slots Game Design and Reverse Withdrawals

In July 2020, we blogged about the Gambling Commission’s consultation on online slots game design and reverse withdrawals, which proposed...

Lucy Paterson

15 March 2021

DCMS consults on significant increases to Gambling Commission fees

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (“DCMS”) has launched a consultation which proposes significant increases to Gambling Commission...

Francesca Burnett-Hall

9 March 2021

Changes of Corporate Control: The Basics

In our experience, there is often confusion regarding change of corporate control (“CoCC”) requirements and, in particular, what events trigger...

Bahar Alaeddini

22 February 2021

Chambers Global 2021 – Four Lawyers Ranked

Harris Hagan continues to have four lawyers individually ranked for Chambers & Partners’ Global Market Leaders Rankings (Gaming & Gambling)....

Ting Fung

2 February 2021

The Affordability Debate: Protection, Responsibility and the Right to Choose

That affordability checks are a critical issue for the British gambling industry is undeniable; they place a yet further onerous...

Julian Harris

20 January 2021

Covid-19: Gambling Commission reminder to online operators

Gambling Commission CEO, Neil McArthur, issued a reminder on 11 January 2021 on the continued need for online operators to...

Ting Fung

1 December 2020

Chambers Gaming Law 2020 Global Practice Guide

Harris Hagan is pleased to contribute once again to the Chambers and Partners Gaming Law Global Practice Guide. The publication...

Ting Fung

24 November 2020

Gambling Commission – AML Guidance Update and Advice

Updates have been made to The prevention of money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism Guidance for remote and...

Ting Fung

24 November 2020

The Gambling Commission’s First National Strategic Assessment

On 6 November 2020 the Gambling Commission published its first National Strategic Assessment (“NSA”) alongside its annual, Raising Standards for...

Ting Fung

18 November 2020

Gambling Commission Compliance and Enforcement Report 2019-2020

On 6 November 2020 the Gambling Commission published its annual Raising Standards for consumers – Compliance and Enforcement report 2019...

Bahar Alaeddini

30 October 2020

Harris Hagan retains Band 1 ranking in Chambers and Partners

We are delighted to announce that Harris Hagan has been ranked in Band 1 of Chambers and Partners UK for...

Francesca Burnett-Hall

22 October 2020

Betting and Gaming Council Announces Game Design Code of Conduct

On 25 September 2020, the Betting and Gaming Council (“BGC”) announced the new Game Design Code of Conduct (the “Code”)....

Jessica Wilson

14 October 2020

Gambling Industry Code for Socially Responsible Advertising, Sixth Edition

“From ancient times in China, Egypt and Rome, it has been present as a pastime, affording enjoyment for many, corrupting...

Ting Fung

13 October 2020

KnowNow Digital Conference: Responsible Marketing for Gambling Operators 2020

Harris Hagan is pleased to join KnowNow again, this time for its second annual Responsible Marketing for Gambling Operators 2020...

Ting Fung

9 October 2020

Gamcare releases first of its kind financial harms toolkit

This week, Gamcare released its Gambling Related Harm: Core Messages and Financial Harm Toolkit, which is aimed at organisations helping...

Lucy Paterson

2 October 2020

Harris Hagan retains Tier 1 ranking in The Legal 500

We are delighted to announce that Harris Hagan has been ranked in The Legal 500 2021 as Tier 1 for...

Jessica Wilson

29 September 2020

“On your marks, get set…” – Fourth National Lottery Competition

The Fourth National Lottery licence has been in the spotlight since the competition (“4NLC”) was announced in November 2018, with...

Ting Fung

28 September 2020

Gambling Commission Consultation Response on Display of Licensed Status

On 30 July 2020, the Gambling Commission published its response to a consultation carried out between 26 February 2020 and...

Jessica Wilson

23 September 2020

Thomson Reuters Practical Law: Gaming Global Guide 2020

Harris Hagan were delighted to contribute again to Thomson Reuters Practical Law: Gaming Global Guide. The guide provides an overview...

Jessica Wilson

17 August 2020

Consultation Response on Changes to Information Requirements

In our blog of 7 April 2020 we summarised the Gambling Commission’s consultation, launched on 26 February 2020, in two...

David Whyte

103

17 August 2020

Consultation Response on Changes to Information Requirements – AML/CTF

In our blog of 7 April 2020 we summarised the Gambling Commission’s consultation, launched on 26 February 2020, in two...

David Whyte

103

20 July 2020

Gambling Commission Consultation on High Value Customers

Introduction Following a breakfast briefing conducted by Neil McArthur in October 2019, the Gambling Commission announced the formation of three...

Julian Harris

10 July 2020

Gambling Commission Consultation on Online Slots Game Design and Reverse Withdrawals

On 9 July 2020, the Gambling Commission announced a consultation on online slots game design and reverse withdrawals. The former...

Bahar Alaeddini

131

9 July 2020

Gambling Commission Creates Interim Experts by Experience Group

On 19 June 2020, the Gambling Commission announced the creation of an interim Experts by Experience Group. The interim group...

Bahar Alaeddini

111

25 June 2020

Gambling Commission Consultation on Regulatory Panel Reforms – Our Response

On 18 May 2020, the Gambling Commission announced planned changes to its Regulatory Panel, which included: (1) the recruitment and appointment of...

Bahar Alaeddini

102

24 June 2020

Preserving the Value of Regulatory Assets in a Restructure

Covid-19 has not been all bad news for the beleaguered gambling industry – both anecdotally and from the statistics released...

Hilary Stewart-Jones

111

1 June 2020

Gambling updates from the Advertising Standards Authority; lockdown, eSports and children’s exposure to gambling adverts

The Advertising Standards Authority (“ASA”) has recently published guidance on advertising gambling amid lockdown, the marketing of eSports on social...

Jessica Wilson

108

28 May 2020

Changes to the Gambling Commission’s Regulatory Panel Procedure Rules

On 18 May 2020, the Gambling Commission announced planned changes to its Regulatory Panels. Claiming to improve how it regulates,...

Bahar Alaeddini

118

28 May 2020

Changes to the Gambling Commission’s Regulatory Panel

On 18 May 2020, the Gambling Commission announced planned changes to its Regulatory Panels. In its introduction it explained: “Due...

Bahar Alaeddini

122

18 May 2020

New Gambling Commission Guidance for Online Operators: Changing the Basis of Regulation?

Introduction The Gambling Commission’s recently published purported “guidance” for online operators (“New Guidance”), issued under social responsibility code provision 3.4.1...

Julian Harris

122

14 May 2020

New Gambling Commission Guidance for Online Operators

On 12 May 2020, the Gambling Commission issued new “additional formal guidance” for online operators in response to “evidence that...

Jessica Wilson

131

7 May 2020

Remain Vigilant to Ensure AML Compliance

The Gambling Commission published the fifth edition of The prevention of money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism –...

David Whyte

127

6 May 2020

Gambling Commission Response on Remote Key Equipment Changes

In our blog on 3 February 2020 we outlined the Gambling Commission’s proposed changes to the variation application and notification...

Bahar Alaeddini

122

5 May 2020

Keeping Affiliates in Line: “No Fudging”

Ensuring that operators have adequate oversight of their marketing affiliates has been on the Gambling Commission’s agenda for some time,...

Lucy Paterson

107

1 May 2020

New Gambling Commission Commissioners

The Gambling Commission recently announced the appointment of four new Commissioners with immediate effect. Terry Babbs, Brian Bannister, Jo Hill...

Bahar Alaeddini

116

24 April 2020

Betting and Gaming Council Announces Safer Gambling Strategy

Last month the industry association, the Betting and Gaming Council, announced a new 10-point safer gambling action plan for its...

Jessica Wilson

124

16 April 2020

Vlog on Gambling Commission Licences

I am pleased to share our new training vlog on the basics of licences issued by the Gambling Commission. Happy...

Bahar Alaeddini

125

14 April 2020

Gambling Commission Business Plan 2020-2021

In the midst of the Coronavirus crisis and national lockdown, the Gambling Commission pushed ahead and published its annual business...

Francesca Burnett-Hall

106

8 April 2020

Welcome To Harris Hagan’s Vlog

In a blog post last week I mentioned the launch of our video blog with weekly vlogs or blog tutorials...

Bahar Alaeddini

123

8 April 2020

GAMSTOP, Prophet and Sportito – A Cautionary Tale

GAMSTOP is a multi-operator self-exclusion scheme which enables players to restrict their online gambling by self-excluding from online operators with...

Lucy Paterson

126

7 April 2020

Consultation on LCCP Information Requirements, Regulatory Returns and Industry Statistics

Gambling Commission licensees are required to report certain information to the Gambling Commission in accordance with the Licence Conditions and...

Jessica Wilson

113

6 April 2020

Banks Tackling Gambling-Related Harm

Last year the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (“DCMS”) ministers met with banks and gambling operators to discuss...

Lucy Paterson

128

3 April 2020

No Love in the Time of Coronavirus

On 1 April 2020 the Gambling Commission published its annual business plan for 2020-2021. Inevitably this was drafted prior to...

Julian Harris

127

2 April 2020

“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”

Training means “the action of teaching a person or animal a particular skill or type of behaviour”. It has specific...

Bahar Alaeddini

113

2 April 2020

Update on Gambling Commission Industry Working Groups

On 2 October 2019, Neil McArthur, CEO of the Gambling Commission, delivered a speech at a CEO Breakfast Briefing in London in...

Bahar Alaeddini

120

31 March 2020

Productivity in This Time of Crisis

The widespread closure of land-based gambling businesses, coupled with the impact of a hiatus in sport may, however undesirably, present...

David Whyte

126

31 March 2020

PMLs: Maintenance or Renewal?

We have encountered some misunderstanding, not least on the part of the Gambling Commission (the “Commission”), as to the nature...

Julian Harris

109

27 March 2020

Government Help for Gambling Businesses

In an effort to help businesses struggling in the face of the global coronavirus pandemic, the Government announced, on 17...

Francesca Burnett-Hall

121

27 March 2020

Betting Without Sports & Product Diversification

Following the recent cancellation of almost all sporting events, and with future cancellations and postponements looking inevitable, licensees may be...

Lucy Paterson

121

25 March 2020

The Gambling Commission’s Response to the Coronavirus Crisis

The world is currently facing its greatest health emergency since the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 and its worst economic...

Julian Harris

124

21 February 2020

Four Lawyers Ranked in Chambers Global 2020

Four of Harris Hagan’s lawyers were individually ranked in the global rankings, for Gaming & Gambling, of the prestigious Chambers &...

Harris Hagan

136

14 February 2020

Betting and Gaming Council Call for Crackdown on Black Market

The Betting and Gaming Council (“BGC”), the single industry group which represents British-licensed gambling operators, has called for the Government...

Lucy Paterson

116

5 February 2020

Changing Mindsets

After a marked absence from ICE, Neil McArthur, the CEO of the Gambling Commission, gave a keynote speech at the...

Francesca Burnett-Hall

138

3 February 2020

Gambling Commission Consults on Remote Key Equipment Changes

All online gambling businesses providing facilities for gambling have remote gambling equipment, known as “key equipment”. This is recorded in Schedule...

Francesca Burnett-Hall

121

20 January 2020