Gambling - Commission fine Bookmaker for betting in pubs

The Gambling Commission has imposed an £8,000 financial penalty on Celtic Racing (Credit Betting) Limited (“Celtic”), a licensed bookmaker, who persisted in operating betting in pubs in South West Wales.

As reported, Celtic knowingly provided facilities for betting from a number of alcohol licensed premises. They were caught following a joint investigation run by the Gambling Commission which was supported by Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire Local Authorities. Celtic also received a formal warning from the Commission and an additional licence condition has been placed on its operating licence.

We would stress, however, that it is not just the Operator of bookmakers who should not be allowing this practice to happen; operators of licensed premises (pubs etc) should not be allowing betting to take place on their premises either.

To clarify the legal position…no commercial betting at all, regardless of the level of stakes, is allowed in pubs and clubs. Any person who facilitates such betting – whether designated premises supervisors, publicans or club officials – will be providing illegal facilities for gambling and will therefore be breaking the law.

Even where designated premises supervisors, publicans or club officials accept bets on behalf of licensed bookmakers, or just facilitate betting through their own telephone accounts, they are acting as betting intermediaries and could be prosecuted.

Customers can of course watch racing in licensed premises and bet using their own telephone account or take a betting slip direct to a bookmaker themselves.

It is also legal to have betting slips in a pub or club as long as when the customer completes the slip they take it to the bookmaker themselves. If a designated premises supervisor, some other employee of the pub, or club official take all the betting slips that their customers / members have completed along with the stake money to the bookmakers before the event they will be deemed to be acting as a betting intermediary and risk prosecution.