Gambling Regulation Act 2024

Obligation to close gambling account

171. (1) Subject to subsection (2), a licensee of a remote gambling licence shall close an account-holder’s gambling account with the licensee where the account-holder—

(a) requests the licensee in writing to do so, or

(b) does not participate in any relevant gambling activity provided by the licensee concerned by remote means for a period of 13 months.

(2) Subsection (1)(b) shall not apply in respect of an account-holder entered on the National Gambling Exclusion Register for the duration of the period of such registration.

(3) Where a licensee closes the gambling account of an account-holder under subsection (1), the licensee shall—

(a) where the gambling account is closed pursuant to a request under paragraph (a) of that subsection, refund any money in that account to the account-holder, and

(b) where the gambling account is closed pursuant to paragraph (b) of that subsection, make reasonable efforts to refund any money in that account to the account-holder.

(4) Where a licensee is unable, having made reasonable efforts, to refund money in a gambling account in accordance with subsection (3)(b), the licensee shall transfer the money to the Authority for the purposes of payment into the Social Impact Fund.

(5) Where a licensee has transferred money in a gambling account to the Authority under subsection (4) and subsequently a person contacts the licensee claiming to be the account-holder of that account and seeks to either gamble with the money that had been in that account or to obtain a refund of that money, the licensee shall, having satisfied itself that the person was the account-holder concerned—

(a) direct the person to the Authority for a refund, and

(b) notify the Authority in writing—

(i) that it has directed the person to it,

(ii) that the licensee is satisfied that the person was the account-holder of the gambling account that was closed, and

(iii) of the date on which the money in the gambling account was transferred to the Authority and the amount transferred.

(6) A licensee of a remote gambling licence who fails to comply with a provision of this section is guilty of an offence and is liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a class A fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or both, or

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years, or both.