Explanatory Notes

Gambling Act 2005

2005 CHAPTER 19

7 April 2005

Territorial Extent

Territorial limits – vessels and aircraft

Part 1: Interpretation of Key Concepts
Section 11: Betting: prize competitions

63.Schemes purporting to be prize competitions will fall within the definition of betting in this Part, even though they may not involve the deposit of a stake in the way normal to betting, if they satisfy specified conditions. One of the conditions is a requirement to pay to enter; and Schedule 1 defines what amounts to “payment to enter”.

64.The effect of making such schemes subject to regulation as betting is to ensure that all the relevant protections provided by the Act in respect of betting apply. Therefore, schemes such as “fantasy football” competitions or the Racing Post’s “Ten to Follow” competition will be regulated in the same way as bets placed on single events. However, the definition is intended to exclude prize competitions (such as prize crosswords) where the elements of prediction and wagering are not both present.