To see less ads Register or Login ----- Daily Fantasy Sports games 18+

Gambling Commission and FF

General Fantasy Football notices & comment. Please use the Specialist FF forums for other Fantasy Football messages.

Post Reply
User avatar
quizking
Grumpy Old Man
Posts: 2730
Joined: 13 Oct 2005, 18:32
Location: quizking towers, primrose hill; and running the shop at https://www.quizking.net/
Contact:

Gambling Commission and FF

Post by quizking »

http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/ne ... rules.aspx

They have point blank refused to get involved in anything to do with fantasy football in the past (saying it's not in their remit, when trying to chase prize payments for example) but this year suddenly a change of tack. The nanny state poking it's nose, or just as likely they think they can raise a few quid in fees and/or fines.
Forewarned is forearmed.

User avatar
Mystery
FISO Knight
Posts: 13816
Joined: 13 Oct 2005, 18:33
Location: Just about here
FS Record: 116th in TFF 05/06
Contact:

Re: Gambling Commission and FF

Post by Mystery »

quizking wrote:http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/ne ... rules.aspx

They have point blank refused to get involved in anything to do with fantasy football in the past (saying it's not in their remit, when trying to chase prize payments for example) but this year suddenly a change of tack. The nanny state poking it's nose, or just as likely they think they can raise a few quid in fees and/or fines.
Forewarned is forearmed.
It's always been in their remit because of the pool betting rules. That was the reason TFF stopped accepting entries from the Channel Islands a few years back before I kicked off with the support of the local paper (and a local connection to the owners of the Telegraph too I dare say). Pool betting was in the scope of the law and the law prevented accepting entries from overseas.

You'll notice the Telegraph has a Gambling Commission license too.

If the Commission has backed away in the past it's because of resourcing or expedience.

User avatar
quizking
Grumpy Old Man
Posts: 2730
Joined: 13 Oct 2005, 18:32
Location: quizking towers, primrose hill; and running the shop at https://www.quizking.net/
Contact:

Re: Gambling Commission and FF

Post by quizking »

Expedience, definitely - they haven't wanted to chase up on late payment issues from the sun, or (a few years ago) get involved with rule changes in a metro game. I was certainly sure these games were within their remit, they claimed otherwise.

Thought it worth flagging this up as there are several cash leagues being run on fiso, and although I don't think that there's a problem, the GC might choose to take a different view.

User avatar
Vid
Head Moderator
Posts: 21728
Joined: 13 Oct 2005, 18:33
FS Record: winning is a distant memory

Re: Gambling Commission and FF

Post by Vid »

If they drop in then it should result in interesting exchanges given that some of the biggest cash leagues are organised by those that suffered due to Tamgate that they had no interest in whatsoever.

User avatar
Mystery
FISO Knight
Posts: 13816
Joined: 13 Oct 2005, 18:33
Location: Just about here
FS Record: 116th in TFF 05/06
Contact:

Re: Gambling Commission and FF

Post by Mystery »

The GC can't have interest in us. The leagues operated here are "not run in the course of a business". If anyone wants to run a league and take a cut of the pot then they might be caught I suppose but that sort of thing isn't found around here as far as I know.

User avatar
murf
FISO Viscount
Posts: 109449
Joined: 13 Oct 2005, 18:28
Location: here
FS Record: Once led TFF. Very briefly.
Contact:

Re: Gambling Commission and FF

Post by murf »

Mystery wrote:The GC can't have interest in us. The leagues operated here are "not run in the course of a business". If anyone wants to run a league and take a cut of the pot then they might be caught I suppose but that sort of thing isn't found around here as far as I know.
Would FISO itself count as "a business" and any leagues as run in the course of it????

Anything for us punters to worry about???

User avatar
Mystery
FISO Knight
Posts: 13816
Joined: 13 Oct 2005, 18:33
Location: Just about here
FS Record: 116th in TFF 05/06
Contact:

Re: Gambling Commission and FF

Post by Mystery »

murf wrote:
Mystery wrote:The GC can't have interest in us. The leagues operated here are "not run in the course of a business". If anyone wants to run a league and take a cut of the pot then they might be caught I suppose but that sort of thing isn't found around here as far as I know.
Would FISO itself count as "a business" and any leagues as run in the course of it????

Anything for us punters to worry about???
I'm not a lawyer but given that FISO doesn't aim to make a profit from it's league operations, and indeed it would be argued it doesn't even have any league operations of its own, then I just don't see it

User avatar
Talkie Toaster
Grumpy Old Man
Posts: 4427
Joined: 11 Jul 2017, 15:43

Re: Gambling Commission and FF

Post by Talkie Toaster »

There's a bit more detail if you go into the "advice on our website" link in the link from the OP.
When considering if a fantasy football league, or any fantasy football competition involving other sports, needs a pool betting licence, organisers must consider:

Does it look and feel like commercial gambling?
Is it run for profit?
Is there any deduction for running costs?
Is the source of participants beyond a genuine circle of friends and relations?
Is advertising used to obtain participants?
Is the size of the league beyond what is normal for a private league?
Can any member of the public view or join the league?
What is the level of activity required in running the league?
Are there any wider revenue sources?
It doesn't explain whether the standard for needing/not needing a licence requires all yeses or nos for these points, or is it a more subjective totting up procedure?

The one point that they do mention a few times on the site though is around advertising:
Promoting your fantasy football league

Advertising for gambling purposes includes doing anything which encourages someone to gamble with their business, or providing information about gambling facilities with the intention that that will increase the use.

This includes tweets or Facebook posts, whether public or private or within groups.

Promoting a fantasy football league in this way could mean it is being operated in the course of business and need an operating licence.
In the light of this should FISO be considering advising/requiring organisers of cash leagues not to promote their games anywhere outside of the forum?

User avatar
blahblah
FISO Viscount
Posts: 108502
Joined: 13 Oct 2005, 18:46
Location: .. he thinks that he knows something which he doesn't, whereas I am quite concious of my ignorance.

Re: Gambling Commission and FF

Post by blahblah »

murf wrote: 21 Jul 2017, 17:12
Mystery wrote:The GC can't have interest in us. The leagues operated here are "not run in the course of a business". If anyone wants to run a league and take a cut of the pot then they might be caught I suppose but that sort of thing isn't found around here as far as I know.
Would FISO itself count as "a business" and any leagues as run in the course of it????

Anything for us punters to worry about???
Nothing to worry about, imho, as it is for those who run the FPL, TFF, Sun etc not a few bods putting cash into a pot which is then distributed at the end of the season.....

User avatar
12345678
Dumbledore
Posts: 5817
Joined: 13 Oct 2005, 18:26

Re: Gambling Commission and FF

Post by 12345678 »

as someone who has tried to use regulatory bodies generally and the gambling commission in particular, i would comment that uk regulatory bodies veer toward the chocolate teapot design. GC are their to take fees they have no interest in dodgy behaviour by bookies or allied bodies, as long as they have their money they are good!

regardless of where fiso (or an individual) stands legally (you run a small risk whatever you do) GC are unlikely to expend effort trying to get a few quid off individuals.

bspittles
Dumbledore
Posts: 7607
Joined: 13 Oct 2005, 18:26
Location: In hiding

Re: Gambling Commission and FF

Post by bspittles »

I wonder if the standard FISO posts made for money games should be updated to specify that no admin fees must be charged. That should indemnify FISO from any action, however unlikely.

User avatar
12345678
Dumbledore
Posts: 5817
Joined: 13 Oct 2005, 18:26

Re: Gambling Commission and FF

Post by 12345678 »

can also confirm the sun are still 'at it' with the chuckle brothers in the admin and process depts still playing 'from me to you' with last seasons as yet unpaid prizemoney. the sun must love uk regulatory bodies ;)

User avatar
blahblah
FISO Viscount
Posts: 108502
Joined: 13 Oct 2005, 18:46
Location: .. he thinks that he knows something which he doesn't, whereas I am quite concious of my ignorance.

Re: Gambling Commission and FF

Post by blahblah »

12345678 wrote: 08 Aug 2017, 10:49 can also confirm the sun are still 'at it' with the chuckle brothers in the admin and process depts still playing 'from me to you' with last seasons as yet unpaid prizemoney. the sun must love uk regulatory bodies ;)
And can continue post Brexit :wink: :lol:

View Latest: 1 Day View Your posts
Post Reply

Return to “General Fantasy Football (FF) Notices & Comments”