UK's White List of Approved Online Gambling Operators Being Curtailed

DCMS, The United Kingdom's Department of Culture, Media and Sport will not be receiving any additional operators until early next year. This was announced as current participants in the U.K.'s White List were being notified of this action. Online gambling operators that are approved by the United Kingdom are included in the White List. These are the ones residing in the U.K that are allowed to advertise their products and services in the media. At the present time the United Kingdom government is planning to review the UK Gambling Act. and consequently cannot receive any new applicants. There is a study that is being carried out by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. This study is expected to be completed by the end of 2009. At that time it will be presented to Parliament which is expected to table it by January 2010.

It is being alleged by U.K. based bookmakers that offshore operators that are included on the White List, are enjoying an unfair advantage. This review process of the U.K. online gambling legislation is being prompted by the actions by the U.K. operators. With regard to online gambling, the UK represents one of the most open jurisdictions in the world. It is the aim of the UK operators to create a level playing field. This will allow for fair and equal competition within the online gambling industry. The situation is also being made worse by the fact that several member states of the European Union are giving little respect to the European Commission directive to create a situation in which there is an opening up of online gambling to fair competition from the other E.U. nations.

For example, such countries as Italy and France are restricting access of UK-based online gambling operators to their markets. This is creating friction among the several countries involved.

It is believed that the projected review will in addition assess the situation of problem gambling. In the UK, the situation has been growing worse as online gambling operators based in the U.K. are expressing their concerns that they are not able to compete in the competitive market. They are saying that they will have to move to offshore locations where taxes are less and there are fewer restrictions. In a profit driven industry such as online gambling, it is the bottom line that rules.

Back to Online Gambling News - August 2009
Online Casino Latest News
Online Casino News Archive