1.

History of and overall attitudes to gambling

2.

Legal and regulatory framework

2.1

Which legislative and regulatory provisions govern gambling in your jurisdiction?

2.2

Which bodies are responsible for regulating and enforcing the applicable laws and regulations? What powers do they have?

2.3

What is the regulators’ general approach in regulating the gambling sector?

3.

Definitions and scope of gambling

3.1

How is ‘gambling’ defined in your jurisdiction?

3.2

What different types of activities are defined in the gambling legislation and what specific requirements apply to each? Please consider: (a) Betting (fixed odds/pool and spread)/betting on lotteries; (b) Gaming (house and ring games); (c) Lotteries/scratch cards and (d) The interface with financial products (if relevant).

3.3

What are the main mechanisms and features of the control of gambling in your jurisdiction? What are the consequences of breach of the regulations, both for operators and for players?

4.

Issues of jurisdiction

4.1

What approach do the courts take to the issue of jurisdiction? Where an operator which is physically outside the jurisdiction offers services to individuals within the jurisdiction, is such gambling treated as taking place offshore and outside the control of the authorities? If not, what triggers establish when such gambling is subject to the laws and control of your jurisdiction?

4.2

Can foreign operators provide remote gambling services in your jurisdiction without obtaining a licence? Can licensed domestic operators provide services overseas?

5.

Remote versus non-remote gambling

5.1

Does the gambling regime in your jurisdiction distinguish between remote and non-remote gambling? If so, how are these defined?

5.2

Are there any restrictions on the media through which gambling can be provided (eg, internet/mobile telephony)?

6.

Licensing

6.1

What types of licences are available? Please consider: (a) Operators; (b) Activities (if relevant); (c) Premises; (d) Key individuals (if relevant) and (e) Equipment (if relevant).

6.2

Which bodies award and oversee such licences?

6.3

What are the key features of such licences (eg, term/renewal/any limit on overall numbers/change of control)?

6.4

What are the substantive requirements to obtain a licence (eg, company established in the jurisdiction/physical presence/capitalisation?)

6.5

What are the formal and documentary requirements to obtain a licence?

6.6

What is the typical timetable for obtaining a licence?

6.7

What costs are typically incurred in obtaining a licence?

7.

Ongoing compliance

7.1

What are the operator’s rights and obligations under the licence?

7.2

Can licences be transferred? If so, how? What restrictions apply?

7.3

What requirements and restrictions apply to the different types of gambling facilities in your jurisdiction?

8.

Penalties and sanctions

9.

Advertising and marketing of gambling

10.

Consumer protection

10.1

What social responsibility obligations apply to land-based and remote gambling operators in your jurisdiction? Do these vary depending on the type or location of the activity, or the medium through which it is carried out?

10.2

What other general consumer protection requirements are of relevance for gambling operators in your jurisdiction?

11.

Financial crime

12.

Non-gambling activities/social gambling

12.1

What specific activities, if any, are exempted from the gambling regime in your jurisdiction (eg, prize contests/sweepstakes/free prize draws/e-sports)?

12.2

How is ‘social gambling’ defined in your jurisdiction and how is it regulated (if at all)?

13.

Disputes and legal enforceability

13.1

Are gambling contracts enforceable as a matter of law?

13.2

In which forums are gambling disputes typically heard in your jurisdiction? What issues do such disputes typically involve?

13.3

Have there been any recent cases of note?

14.

Trends and predictions

15.

Tips and traps

Comparative Guides

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