Debate has begun in the UK’s House of Lords on a series of amendments to the Gambling Bill that could significantly alter the remote gaming regulations,
Lord Clement-Jones and Lord Addington have proposed an amendment to the bill asking the UK government to designate the US as a prohibited territory.
But no decision has been reached on this yet, as the Lords were forced to conclude debate early to attend to the urgent matter of the troubled anti-terrorism bill.
There was also no discussion on changes to the section of the Bill that would require all gaming equipment to be based in the UK.
One amendment proposed by the government would give it the power to exclude firms from this condition if it was “pursuant to the licensing objectives”.
An additional amendment made by Baroness Buscombe and Lord Luke would allow gaming equipment to be based overseas providing it was available for inspection and audit.
Another significant amendment proposed by members of the House of Lords would see a significantly revised set of clauses relating to age verification with greater protection from prosecution for operators.
Members of the house are hopeful the government will be forced to agree to concessions in order to safeguard.
But the government’s spokesman in the Lords, Lord McIntosh, said he had no intention of giving way to any of the proposed amendments.
Debate will continue in the House later this month, with a vote on the amendments expected in early April.
source : egaming review magazine
