The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, most commonly known as simply the UK, or Britain, is one of the world’s oldest and most famous countries. During the vast rule of the British Empire, British settlers imposed their new way of life on natives the world over. And as long as Britain’s been around, so has gambling. Recently, the UK received a makeover regarding their gambling laws.

The Gambling Commission on behalf of the government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport regulates all gambling in the United Kingdom, under the Gambling Act 2005. This Act of Parliament extensively updated the UK’s gambling laws, including the beginning of a new structure of protection for children and vulnerable adults, as well as brining the rapidly increasing internet gaming sector within British regulation for the first time.

The UK’s most popular form of gambling is their lotteries. Their largest lottery is known as the National Lottery, which was set up under government license back in 1993. A statute from 1698 provided that in England, lotteries were illegal unless specifically authorized. An Act from 1934 then legalized small lotteries, which was further liberalized in 1956, then again in 1976. No one was allowed to hold a large lottery, however, unless it was government-formed. Several games are run under this brand, including Lotto and Thunderball. As with other common lotteries, players choose a set of numbers, then numbers are drawn at random to pick a winner.

With a love for football and racing, sports betting has been around the UK as long as sport itself. Sports gambling’s history is long and sordid at times. It was under strict control for many decades, and more recently somewhat relinquished. The 1960 Act legalized off-course bookmakers. Pool betting on horses is a monopoly of the state-owned Tote. There is a gigantic market in the UK for gambling on competitive sports at bookmakers, particularly for horse, greyhound racing, and association football. Football also has an associated form of gambling known as football pools, which players win if they correctly predict the outcome of each week’s matches.

Bingo and casinos are also popular in the UK. Bingo was popularized during WWII, and brought back to Britain after the war’s end. The Betting and Gaming Act 1960 allowed commercial bingo halls to get set up in the UK, provided they were ran as members-only clubs, and had to get their take from membership fees rather than gambling percentages. Casinos also have a similar history. The Gaming Board of Great Britain also limited casinos to members-only establishments, and only allowed 10 gaming machines per casino. In 1968, after much difficulty enforcing this law, the Gaming Act liberalized the law, allowing commercial casinos in the UK.

A 2005 Act cleared the road for larger resort-style casinos to be built. Although, the manner in which they are to be built is still strictly controlled, allowing one casino every few years until the Act is fully implemented. Many towns throughout the UK bid in hopes of playing host to one of these new casinos, which are set to be similar to new casinos in Las Vegas. In 2007, Manchester was selected and will be the first location for one of these grand casinos.

Stanley Star City Casino - Birmingham - UK
Tel: +44 121 328 9452
Star City is a huge entertainment complex containing a casino, multi-screen cinema, restaurants, stores, clubs and an entertainment arcade....read more »