The General Betting Duty Regulations 2001

Non-standard accounting periods

9.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this regulation, a bookmaker may give the Commissioners written notice that four consecutive accounting periods each comprising three consecutive months will be his accounting periods.

(2) The notice required by paragraph (1) above must be given to the Commissioners at least 28 days, but not more than 90 days, before the day on which the first three-month accounting period begins and must specify the first calendar month of that accounting period.

(3) A bookmaker must not give notice under paragraph (1) above if—

(a) he has in the twelve months immediately preceding the date of his notice been convicted of an offence under paragraph 13(3) of Schedule 1 to the Act, or

(b) he has failed to furnish any return that he was, in accordance with regulation 5 above or regulation 6 of the General Betting Duty Regulations 1987, required to furnish in the twelve months immediately preceding the date of his notice, or

(c) (subject to regulation 11(3) below) any duty due from him in accordance with regulation 6 above or regulation 6 of the General Betting Duty Regulations 1987 is outstanding at the date of his notice.

(4) A bookmaker must not give notice under paragraph (1) above unless, subject to paragraph (6) below, his net stake receipts were a negative amount in two accounting periods within the twelve months immediately preceding the date of his notice.

(5) Any notice that—

(a) does not comply with the requirements of this regulation,

(b) is given in contravention of paragraph (3) or (4) above, or

(c) is given in relation to a period that is already a three-month accounting period under these Regulations,

is ineffective.

(6) For the purposes of paragraph (4) above, a bookmaker’s net stake receipts must be calculated, and he must be treated as if, each calendar month was an accounting period whether or not this is actually the case.

(7) For the purposes of this regulation, subject to paragraph (6) above, net stake receipts are to be calculated in the manner described in section 5(1) of the Act (including, where so required, in relation to periods before these Regulations came into force).