The UK’s Gambling Bill cleared a major hurdle last night when it passed its third reading in the House of Commons, and ministers from both sides said the Bill is now on course to become law before May.
The Gambling Bill passed its final House of Commons vote by a healthy majority of 198 and now passes to the House of Lords for further debate, which is set to begin on February 22.
But John Greenway MP, who was chairman of the Joint Scrutiny Committee, said he was more confident than ever of the Bill’s successful passage.
“The issues that were raised last night were not such to give me cause to be concerned about a major rebellion,” Greenway said.
“My hunch is the government will have to make some further amendments, but I don’t see any reason why this Bill can’t proceed.”
Once again the major objections raised concerned the offline industry and the remote gambling section of the bill was passed relatively unaltered.
And commentators predict the Bill will pass without further serious amendments to the remote gambling clauses, with the Lords unlikely to raise any serious objections.
With a General Election due in the UK on May 5 there will be additional pressure on the government to pass the bill without major changes in order for it to become law before May.
source : egaming review magazine
Gambling Bill remains on course in UK
