It is the Government's job to ensure we have fair and enforceable regulation at every level so we can protect those who move from seeing it as entertainment; (knowing you are more likely to lose) to those who become addicted (and think they are more likely to win). It is for the new Gambling Commission do to just that. But with 15 amendments made to the Act even before 1st September, does this regulator have the teeth to manage new types of gambling, such as internet gaming, which are now advertised on our television screens?

Indeed it is internet gambling which is likely to feature highly in the Commission's forthcoming review (The Prevalence Report) of problem gambling in Britain. A loophole in the Act means on-line gaming companies can avoid the robust rules of operation, (such as confirmation of age) by basing themselves in parts of Europe, for example, where there is a requirement for no more than a click in an on-screen box to confirm the user is over 18. Consequently not one on-line gambling company as registered in the UK and many others (who now advertise on UK television) have relocated in order to take advantage of more relaxed laws. In addition to tighter age checks it may be time to consider prohibiting the use of credit cards for internet gambling and allow the use of debit cards only. This will mean you can only gamble with money you currently own and not money you borrow and already applies in casinos. However no changes such as this could be introduced until there is a level playing field in regulatory standards across Europe.

Another area likely to be covered in The Prevalence Report, is the popularity of Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs). These 'electronic roulette wheels' are a recent invention, and are predominantly found in high street bookies. The user is able bet up to a maximum mount of £100 per spin of the wheel which takes place very 20 seconds. Book makers concede that profits from these machines now match that made over the counter from traditional bets. It would be cynical to suggest that the annual £150m made by the Exchequer has delayed a review of FOBT's but after four years since they were rolled out it may be time to take stock of their impact.

Technology is clearly influencing the types of gambling available and it will a challenge for the Gambling Commission to ensure regulation is able to keep up. We are, for example, already seeing electronic Bingo and roulette games being sent straight to a children's mobile phones.

There is no doubt that the Gambling Commission is a powerful regulator compared to its predecessor, the Gaming Board, but if Britain wants to be the regulatory beacon of social responsibility the Government promised there is much work to be done.