Applications for operating licences flooded into the UK's Gambling Commission during the final week before the continuation rights deadline on April 27.
A total of 2,357 licence applications were received, which the Commission estimates covers the vast majority of those entitled to continuation rights.
Licensing staff worked all through the weekend to register the applications. Those that met the deadline are still being processed and are guaranteed continuation rights.
“We are pleased that the vast majority of gambling operators have got the message about the deadline for guaranteed continuation rights,” said Hazel Canter, the Commission’s director of licensing and compliance.
“Continuation rights mean existing businesses that sent their application in before April 27 can continue to run their businesses without interruption after September 1, 2007, even if their operating licence has not been determined by the Commission.
“Not all existing businesses need new licences for September 1 to continue to operate, but those that do but who have not yet applied need to get their applications in as soon as possible.
“The Commission will use its best endeavours to process such applications by September 1, but if they are not licensed by September 1 operators will have to close their businesses until their applications are decided,” Canter concluded.
