Following the announcement on 14 October to carry out a review of stake and prize limits for gaming machines, John Penrose has written to the gambling industry and other stakeholders setting out the timetable for implementation and asking for views on what the review should look like and the best process to follow.
The review will be undertaken by the Department in partnership with the Gambling Commission and is expected to take around 18 months from start to finish, beginning in December.
This timeframe is designed to allow the review to take into account other relevant sources of information, including the forthcoming Select Committee report into the Gambling Act and the gaming machine research that’s currently being undertaken as part of the programme recommended by the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board. It’s also designed to accommodate the legislative scrutiny requirements that will be necessary should it be decided to bring forward any changes. The Department would welcome proposals on where this timeframe could be shortened if possible.
To help stakeholders prepare a business case the Department plans to host an event to discuss the sort of information that would be expected. Stakeholders will also be given the opportunity to come into the Department during the review and present their proposals directly to officials and discuss any issues.
If stakeholders wish to submit any views then they should write to the Department at Gambling Act 2005: Triennial review, DCMS, 2-4 Cockspur Street, London SW1Y 5DH or email Alistair Boon at alistair.boon@culture.gsi.gov.uk by 2 December. Officials will also be happy to discuss any issues with stakeholders directly. Please ring Alistair on 020 7211 6486 to arrange a meeting.
Background
Prior to the implementation of the Gambling Act 2005, a system of regular, routine reviews of stakes and prizes was established by custom on a triennial basis. The intention to reintroduce these periodic reviews follows the recent decision to increase the stakes on B3 gaming machines, and it’s hoped a more systematic approach will give arcade and manufacturing business more certainty when it comes to planning and responding to economic challenges.
Related document(s)
John Penrose letter to Stakeholders, 22 November 2011 (Scanned PDF 167kb)
How to respond
Open date:
22 November 2011
Closing date:
02 December 2011
Please send your comments or if you have any queries about this consultation to:
alistair.boon@culture.gsi.gov.uk
Officials will also be happy to discuss any issues with stakeholders directly. Please contact Alistair Boon on 020 7211 6486 to arrange a meeting.
Freedom of information
Please note responses may be published, unless you ask us not to do so. In addition under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 all information in responses, including personal information, may be subject to publication or disclosure. If any correspondent requests confidentiality this cannot be guaranteed, and will only be possible if considered appropriate under the legislation.
For enquiries about the consultation (handling) process only please email enquiries@culture.gsi.gov.uk, heading your communication 'Review of Stake and Prize Limits for Gaming Machines'.
These documents are available online in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format.
