Brittania Rules Online Gambling
Published: Monday, October 30, 2006 Online-Casinos.com
BRITTANIA RULES ONLINE GAMBLING
Almost one third of Europe's internet gamblers are Brits, claims new study
The Evening Standard reports that a rise in online betting has led to Britain becoming a leading nation in internet gambling, according to a new study. Britons gambled more than GBP 50 billion last year, claims the report.
Some one million people in the UK now regularly log on to internet betting sites, each spending at least GBP 1 000 a year, and British players now account for nearly one third of the 3.5 million online gamblers in Europe.
The British government's culture secretary, Tessa Jowell told ITV's Sunday Edition that the sharp increase in internet gambling was 'a matter for concern' but said this was because it was completely unregulated.
"Our message is that those who are prepared to sign up to tough codes for the protection of children, protection of the vulnerable, keeping gambling fair and crime free are welcome to register onshore in this country," said. "But they will have to abide by the very tough social responsibility codes on which the Gambling Commission are currently consulting.'
The true scale of the gambling fever gripping the country is to be revealed in a new Government study this week, says the newspaper. It follows revelations that the current Labour government wants to make Britain the world centre of internet gambling.
Delegations from 32 governments around the world will meet at Ascot near London this week for an international summit looking at the 'global challenges' of remote gambling, and ways to regulate the industry. Washington has refused to send a delegation to the international summit and last week British Culture secretary Tessa Jowell criticised the American approach of prohibition rather than regulation.
Delegates will discuss how to protect young and vulnerable people, ensure games are fair and keep the industry free of crime.
The new British government study into online gambling, described as the most comprehensive yet into the scale of the industry, will be released in full at the event. It will reveal how a growing number of regular internet gamblers are women.
The Government has described the figures as 'conservative', with millions more people using online sites for occasional wagers.
The Evening Standard says there are now 2 300 internet gambling sites across the world, with more than a quarter based on the Caribbean island of Antigua. Britain hosts 70, but that figure is likely to soar next year.
Online firms which rely on payment by credit card must currently operate from offshore. But from next September they will be allowed to operate from British bases under British regulation.
Recent research found that the online gaming industry currently generates annual revenues of around GBP 5.25 billion, and predicted that this figure could double by 2008. Earlier this year an independent research project revealed the British public gambled more than GBP 50 billion last year.
