Entities registered with or licensed by the Gambling Commision

16

1240/5/1(191)

WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE

MINISTER FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TOURISM, SPORT AND CULTURE BY DEPUTY M.R. HIGGINS OF ST. HELIER

ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 28TH MARCH 2017

Question

Will the Minister request the Gambling Commission to provide the following information for members?

1. the number and type of businesses that are registered or licensed with the Commission and the income derived from each of these registered / licensed entities; and
2. the number of internet gambling licences which have been issued, if any.

Will the Minister also explain whether or not the Commission has generated the levels of business and income originally envisaged when it was first established?

Answer

1. The data requested by the Deputy is contained in the Annual Reports published by the Commission and a list of current licensees is freely available from the Commission's website: https://www.jgc.je/list-of-licensees.

As of March 2017, the terrestrial industry in the Island was made up of 7 Class 1 Bookmakers (operating 90 gaming machines in 26 shops), 2 Class 2 (on course) Bookmakers, a Parimutual Operator, 2 Crown and Anchor Operators, 29 Thrift Clubs, 3 Hosting Providers, a Gambling Software Provider and 2 Personal Gambling Licence Holders. There is also a Promotional Prize lottery in progress, plus a seasonal amusement with prizes' licence awarded for the summer season, as well as a small number of gambling machines licensed to operate in 19 pubs, clubs and restaurants. There are also 4 remote gambling operators and 3 platform providers. Licence fee income for 2016 (unaudited) amounted to £549,052.

2. There are seven remote gambling licences in operation, with a further two currently being processed. Four of these licences are for remote gambling operators, while the other three are platform providers who provide remote gambling services to other businesses.

The Commission is an independent regulator created by the Gambling Commission (Jersey) Law, 2010. Its functions are prescribed by that statute and are as follows:

"(a) the general supervision of gambling, including in particular –

1. supervision of providers of gambling services, and
2. investigation of whether any person is complying with, contravening, or committing an offence under an enactment relating to gambling; and

(b) any other function conferred on or transferred to the Commission under this Law or any other enactment."

No such other function has been so conferred or transferred. The Commission's functions are therefore regulatory, and do not extend to generating gambling business and income. The Commission receives no public funding.