The Betting and Gaming Act 1960 was a British
Act of Parliament
Acts of Parliament, sometimes referred to as primary legislation, are texts of law passed by the Legislature, legislative body of a jurisdiction (often a parliament or council). In most countries with a parliamentary system of government, acts of ...
that legalised additional forms of
gambling in the United Kingdom
Gambling in the United Kingdom is regulated by the Gambling Commission on behalf of the government's Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) under the Gambling Act 2005. This Act of Parliament significantly updated the UK's gamb ...
. It was passed on 1 September 1960 and came into effect on 1 January 1961.
The Act
Based on the recommendations of the
Royal Commission on Betting, Lotteries and Gaming, 1949–51, the act came into force on 1 January 1961 and first allowed gambling for small sums in
games of skill
A game of skill or game of wits is a game where the outcome is determined mainly by mental or physical skill, rather than chance.
Alternatively, a game of chance is one where its outcome is strongly influenced by some randomizing device, such ...
such as
bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span a physical obstacle (such as a body of water, valley, road, or rail) without blocking the way underneath. It is constructed for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle, which is usually somethi ...
. From May 1961 betting shops were allowed to open.
Until 1965 about 16,000 licences were granted by local magistrates.
Aim
The aim was to take gambling off the street and end the practice of runners (employed by bookmakers) collecting from punters, a move welcomed by the clergy. Fines would be imposed at a later date on any street gambling.
[
]
Consequences
The opening of betting shops affected the greyhound racing
Greyhound racing is an organized, competitive sport in which greyhounds are raced around a track. There are two forms of greyhound racing, track racing (normally around an oval track) and coursing; the latter is now banned in most countries. Tra ...
industry in the United Kingdom with attendances suffering throughout Britain. From 1961–1969 there were 21 National Greyhound Racing Club The National Greyhound Racing Club was an organisation that governed Greyhound racing in the United Kingdom.
History
The National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) was formed in 1928 and this body would be responsible for regulation, licensing and the r ...
(NGRC) registered track closures
See also
* History of gambling in the United Kingdom The history of gambling in the United Kingdom goes back centuries, as do efforts to deplore it, and regulate it.
Regulation
Gambling was legal under English common law but the government worried that it interfered with military training. The Unla ...
References
External links
Mentions of the Betting and Gaming Act 1960 in ''Hansard''.
*
United Kingdom Acts of Parliament 1960
1961 in the United Kingdom
Gambling in the United Kingdom
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