Quick Action On UK Gambling Commission
Published: Friday, April 15, 2005 Online-Casinos.com
QUICK ACTION ON UK GAMBLING COMMISSION
New governing body will be a reality
"...in months"
The British government was quick to follow up
on the the success of its gambling reform legislation this week, revealing almost
immediately that it was already busy setting up a new commission to regulate gambling,
including bets made on the Internet.
The Gambling Bill, which overhauls
Britain's outdated gaming regulations, had passed Parliament and become law the
previous evening. Officials said that they hoped to have the new controlling commission
up and running "...within months" and that a body of some 100 investigators
will be established to regulate the industry.
A major focus of the legislation
is to regulate online gambling, which has become increasingly popular in recent
years. Online casino companies will be allowed to operate from Britain for the
first time.
Although the new commission will not have the power to regulate
the practices of online casinos operating outside Britain, it could ban them from
advertising here, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport said.
"The
commission will regulate all forms of gambling," said department spokesman
Anthony Wright. "It will have the power to carry out investigations, bring
about prosecutions, levy fines and void bets they consider unfair. Online casino
operators can operate out of the United Kingdom for the first time. We believe
that is a pragmatic response to what is an increasingly popular activity."
