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UK Opens Doors to Online Gambling by: HP Sunday, January 05, 2003 Ever since the UK relaxed gambling laws on the Isle of Man it seemed only a matter of time before online gambling came to the mainland. As long as the industry could prove itself in a trial run on the Island then the new laws would be applied across the country. Well the industry hasn’t let itself down. Only a week after the announcement of Betfair winning the prestigious Queen’s award online gambling in the UK has been given the green light. This winter new laws are scheduled to pass through parliament destined to make the UK a focal point of virtual gambling. Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell first introduced the radical proposals for regulation of the industry last year. They are to re-emerge under the title, ‘The Future Regulation of Remote Gambling’ next week. The use of the term ‘remote gambling’ shows the extent of the new opportunities that will be opened up to I-gaming operators, encompassing Internet, mobile and TV gambling. Those opportunities are already being planned for. Big US names have already set up camp on the Isle of Man in anticipation of change. Among traditional casino brand names such as Mirage these also include the likes of software giant Microsoft. Hopefully the UK isn’t simply letting itself in for a world of trouble. The proposals are already focused on a strict regulatory structure that will need to be adhered to by any operator seeking a UK license. These regulations focus on protecting the punter, secure methods of payment and the prevention of fraud and money laundering. Strict they maybe, but that isn’t putting off any above board casino operator. In fact the competition is already heating up. By choosing to work with rather than condemn online gambling the UK is on the verge of becoming the regulatory centre of the industry.
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