To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what mechanisms are in place to ensure that remote gambling operators operate legally with respect to the location of servers in advance of the implementation of the Gambling Act 2005 in September 2007. (154800)

Before 1 September 2007, under the Gaming Act 1968, it was illegal to provide gaming by remote means where the gaming operator was based in Great Britain.

From 1 September, offering remote gaming from Great Britain is permitted, and remote operators licensed under the Gambling Act 2005 (the Act) will be subject to requirements as to where they may locate their remote gambling equipment. Section 36(4) of the Act defines the types of equipment considered to be key equipment for the provision of gambling facilities. As part of the licence application process, the physical location of each piece of key equipment, including servers, must be stated and is then assessed by the Gambling Commission to ensure its location is acceptable and to enable effective regulation.

From 1 September 2007, the Gambling Commission will carry out compliance visits to the operator's premises to ensure the location of equipment, including servers, is in accordance with their licence.

It will be an offence under section 33 of the Act for an operator to provide facilities for gambling unless they hold the relevant licence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether a working group was formed at the international conference on online gambling held at Ascot in October 2006. (155648)

Following the International Remote Gambling summit in 2006, the Department will continue to build on its work with European partners and other international regulators to ensure high regulatory standards and encourage the adoption of measures to protect children and vulnerable people, keep crime out and keep gambling fair.

We are considering with the Gambling Commission the option of an international working group to take this work forward.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what role his Department played in the Gambling Commission’s 2007 Prevalence Survey on problem gambling. (155761)

The British Gambling Prevalence Survey 2007 is an independent study which was overseen by the Gambling Commission and undertaken by the National Centre for Social Research. Officials from the Department were members of the steering group which was set up to help contribute to the delivery of the report. Other representatives included the Department of Health, Responsibility in Gambling Trust and the National Lottery Commission.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on what date his Department first received the Gambling Commission’s 2007 Prevalence Survey on problem gambling. (155762)

Officials received the British Gambling Prevalence Survey on 10 September. Ministers received a copy of the survey on 17 September.