7 Regulations in the UK You Didn’t Know About
Great Britain is known for its rich history and culture; thus, it’s no surprise that it is steeped in tradition. The numerous regulations imposed on British law, many of which are not widely known to the greater public, serve as a reflection of these traditions and history.
For instance, gambling in the UK is monitored under some of the most robust regulatory frameworks on the planet. One significant restriction is that all UK-licenced casinos must participate in the GamStop program.
This program is a free UK service that allows British citizens to voluntarily self-exclude from all GamStop-registered online gambling platforms. Once you voluntarily register, you will be excluded from all UK-licenced online casinos for six months, one year, or 5 years. Players can opt to extend their self-exclusion or re-register after the minimum period ends.
The reason behind this program is to prevent excessive gambling habits; however, if you don’t share this same sentiment there are still plenty of quality online gambling platforms to choose from, such as the ones highlighted in Techopedia's guide. According to Kane Pepi, these regulated and licensed online casinos operate outside of UK regulations and are not required to join the GamStop self-exclusion program. This means individuals who have self-excluded from UK-licensed operators can access and gamble on offshore sites.
Another gambling restriction, albeit a stranger one, is that no gambling is permitted to take place in a library. There are tons of other obscure British regulations imposed on the UK populace that most people would never immediately associate with government oversight, let alone have the faintest idea they even exist.
Here’s a British law that is as peculiar and unknown as they get. It’s technically illegal to be found drunk in a pub! Don’t worry, I had to read that sentence twice too. According to Section 12 of the Licensing Act of 1872, “every person found drunk in any highway or other public place, whether a building or not or on any licenced premises,” will face a hefty £200 fine. It’s unlikely this will ever be enforced in modern times, but it just goes to show how certain outdated UK laws still cling to the customs of a bygone era.
For any business that has secured clients from advertising on any vehicle, you may have technically unintentionally committed a crime. According to a law from the Metropolitan Streets Act of 1867, it is illegal to advertise on any vehicle. However, you can probably ignore your new status as a convicted felon, as such an old piece of legislation is unlikely to ever be enforced in modern times.
No pet may mate with a pet belonging to the royal family. While it’s unlikely your pup will ever have a chance to mate with one of the royal corgis, the fact remains that if they did, it would be a crime and one that right up until 1965 would result in death!
Fair warning for those of you who love to sit back, relax, and unwind by watching the telly. According to the Communications Act of 2003, Section 363, it is technically a criminal offence to watch TV without a licence. If you own a television, you might want to double-check you have a valid TV licence, because if you don't, you may be liable for a rather pricey fine of £1,000.
Lastly, here’s a restriction that’s not quite as peculiar as others, but one that is still unlikely to be widely known. It is illegal to jump the queue at a station ticket hall and is an offence under the London Underground bylaws. Compared to many of these other laws, this one is rather reasonable.