UK to regulate Internet gambling

Somewhat relevant the US ban:

ASCOT (Reuters) - Britain unveiled plans on Tuesday to regulate Internet gambling and said it opposed the U.S. government's banning of the industry.

However, sports minister Richard Caborn told a news conference that the government would not protect UK online gaming executives from extradition requests if they took Internet bets from countries in which they were illegal.

"People have to abide by the laws of particular countries," he said. "We will not acknowledge people who operate illegally." Caborn was speaking at Ascot racecourse west of London at a summit of 32 international delegates, which aims to agree a framework of regulation to protect consumers, prevent underage gambling and gambling addiction.

The United States declined to attend, having effectively banned online gaming at the end of September in a move that wiped billions of pounds off the share prices of Internet gaming companies such as PartyGaming and 888. Prior to passing the new legislation, U.S. authorities had arrested gaming executives from two UK-listed online gaming companies -- David Carruthers from BETonSPORTS and Peter Dicks from Sportingbet -- during visits to the country. Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said Britain opposed the U.S. ban, which risked driving the industry into criminal hands. "We do not support the approach the United States has taken," she said at the summit.

"The enormous risk of prohibition is that it forces the industry underground," she said, likening the move to the U.S. ban on alcohol sales in the 1920s.

Caborn said Britain was sympathetic to a complaint made by Antigua to the (WTO) over the U.S. ban, but he stopped short of saying Britain would support the complaint that the U.S. was acting in a protectionist manner.
"It will be a landmark decision ... We sympathize in the sense we want the WTO to clear up this area," Caborn said. "Antigua has made it very clear it welcomes the support of the EU in this. We will find out the WTO's position in 2007."

Caborn said online gaming firms were willing to back initiatives proposed by the government, which include having a "social responsibility" clause written into contracts.

"This morning the vast majority indicated they would sign up. There was no dissention at all on the direction of travel politically."

According to government figures, Europe's regular gamblers stake nearly 3.5 billion pounds ($6.7 billion) a year, an average of 1,000 pounds each. The worldwide Internet gambling market is put at more than $30 billion.
(Additional reporting by Kate Kelland)

I want to move to the UK.

it would be fantastic if the u.s government had that kind of brains

The interesting thing about this is how close the UK government are to directly bad-mouthing the government policies of an ally, very unusual in diplomatic circles. Presumably means they feel strongly about it.

Good for them.

If only Bush and Company would listen.

Great post. Though the author of the Reuters article is off a little bit on the occasional fact. The US did not effectively ban online gaming with this legislation. What they did was force financial institutions stop sending money to and receiving money from gambling sites. There is a significant difference.

I'm very happy to see the UK stance and rhetoric on this. Unfortunately, Bush and company would have to pull their heads out from deep within their asses to hear any of this.

I've seen it similarly (incorrectly) stated on various news articles. I just don't think the media has interpretted the law yet.

On a complete side note, I am looking forward to my Gints beating da Bears in a couple weeks - definate potential playoff preview but we got the edge at home!

Giants 21 - Bears 14

I found another report with some extra details:

http://uk.pokernews.com/news/2006/10...regulation.htm

You would be very welcome. No doubt KD could arrange a welcome.

Apart from the approach to poker, I think you`d find it very much like home.

We are up to our necks in illegal immigrants, but you can`t say so for fear of being called racist.

And the government is busy tearing up ancient civil liberties, because there`s a War on Terror, you see.

come to me Debs...............(yeah I know, you're married, ok, bring him, we'll clean up at the local casino and poolhall!)

Egon, there's so much cr*p going on in our small country, if thats all you see. I see freedom, I see expression, I see bikini-clad girls walk by me as I do my shopping at coastal shops !, I see the government(who always supported America in anything and everything) finally getting some balls and saying, 'Bush, we like you, and stand by you, but this time you've got it wrong'.


Flats down my way, with seaview, start from £60,000, rent is £400 a month. My spare room is yours for £20 a night. First come, first served!

You`re right, KD. Pay no attention to me. I`m only having a mood because I got donked out of both my last two SnGs.

I wouldn`t really want to live anywhere else. I travel a fair bit, and I`m often surprised at how uncivilised (compared to us) other countries are, even including other European countries.

Egon, nah mate, i wasnt attacking your mood, just highlighting my view.
I guess I havent travelled as much as you, but Ive done some of USA, worked in Poland, and last count I've been to eleven european capital cities in the last 5 years, all with easyjet/ryanair. As well as bumming round southern europe every summer for 5 years in my 20's.
If you do still travel a lot, try http://www.virtualtourist.com this site is like this, but a forum on travel. look me up at my homepage, same username there as here. Fantastic info of just about every village/town/city in the world, written by the people living there.
Come say hello.
KD

Oh yes you have, judging from that list.

well, its like poker, never try to brag(I know I brag all the time!), cause however good you are, there's always someone better than you.
It helped that I lived near luton airport for easyjet and ryanair, used to get the flights the day they announced them on the net, ie return to barcelona for £30(inclusive of all taxes), return to nimes, france, for £17, return to dublin and paris, both £22 each.Even flew into Salou one friday for £11 return(inclusive of tax), and stayed there for just one night! That was the only good thing about living near luton!
KD
PS Get on to that travel site, its really useful/entertaining

Go there twice a year - it is very different from home. Considering writing a book about it - funny one of course. So all of you are in danger of meeting me one day.

And back to the matter at hand - I really can't move there to play poker cause my my job here is too good. So I have a plan. My husband is English - so lots of family over there. His sister is going to open an account for me from her computer and can fund it with her credit card. Then a friend here says he can give me software that will mask my origin and allow me to work off a UK or Canadian server. If so I can still play at any site.

Think it will work?

Ya, lets run off together to England, LOL, you buyin the Plane Tickets??? buck

Should work perfectly, and I think we might see a lot of Americans using that sort of dodge.

The key to it is the intermediary has to be someone you can trust to get your money back to you if/when you win.

Who better than a sister ?

Now thats a blooming bargain compared to round here

Whats the local footy team like - oh

shhhhhhhhhhh about the team.
we're still proud of them!!!!!!
pay is crap round here, but nightlife is the best 100 miles in any direction. And when you sit in a beach bar,on a warm august sunday evening 9pm, and 4 women walk by in bikinis, you know you've arrived in Heaven.