The Gambling Commission is an organisation which regulates gambling in the public interest. It promotes fair and open play, ensures that crime is kept out of gambling, and makes sure that children and vulnerable adults are not exploited or harmed.
It is a Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. As it operates separately from the government, the Gambling Commission’s advice is independent and objective. It is the chief advisory body for gambling related issues at local and national level, and is funded mainly by gambling industry license fees.
The Commission was set up under the Gambling Act 2005 and takes the role formerly played by the Gaming Board for Great Britain in regulating casinos, bingo, gaming machines and lotteries. It regulates all commercial gambling in Great Britain apart from spread betting and the National Lottery (which are governed by Financial Services Authority and the National Lottery Commission respectively). As of 2007 this includes sport betting, bingo, lotteries, casinos, pool betting and gaming machines. It also regulates British-based remote gambling (by mobile phone, interactive TV and online) as well as terrestrial gambling
http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/Client/index.asp
