Finance Act 2014

133 Bet-brokers U.K.

(1) This section applies where—

(a) one person (the “bettor”) makes a bet with another person (the “bet-taker”) using facilities provided in the course of a business, other than a betting exchange business, by a third person (the “bet-broker”), or

(b) one person (the “bet-broker”) in the course of a business makes a bet with another person (the “bet-taker”) as the agent of a third person (the “bettor”) (whether the bettor is a disclosed principal or an undisclosed principal).

(2) For the purposes of sections 126 to 132—

(a) the bet is to be treated as if it were made separately by the bettor with the bet-broker and by the bet-broker with the bet-taker,

(b) the bet-broker is to be treated as a bookmaker in respect of the bet,

(c) the aggregate of amounts due to be paid by the bettor in respect of the bet is to be treated as being due separately to the bet-broker and to the bet-taker (and any amount due to be paid by the bet-broker to the bet-taker is to be disregarded), and

(d) a sum paid by the bet-taker by way of winnings in respect of the bet is to be treated as having been paid separately by the bet-taker and by the bet-broker at that time and for that purpose (and any sum paid by the bet-broker is to be disregarded).

(3) Where there is any doubt as to which of two persons is the bettor and which the bet-taker for the purposes of subsection (1)(a), whichever of the two was the first to use the facilities of the bet-broker to offer the bet is to be treated as the bet-taker.

(4) In this section “betting exchange business” means a business such as is mentioned in section 141(1).