UK Not Impressed by US Online Gambling Bill

Filed in archive Gambling General on October 27, 2006

America's bestest friend in the world, the UK, has taken its first jab at the US ban of online gambling.

Comparing it, like many, to the prohibition era, Tessa Jowell, the UK's Culture Secretary likened unregulated offshore online casinos to illegal bars or 'speakeasies' in the 1920's.

30 countries will be attending a summit to discuss ways to regulate the online gambling industry, which Jowell will be hosting. The most notable country missing from this is, of course, the US.

Next week's gathering has been months in the planning and officials intended to discuss ways to stop criminals from defrauding online gamblers and to prevent sites being used for money laundering.

However, the new U.S. law is likely to be the focus of talks. Jowell said that regulating sites worked better than prohibition.

"America should have learnt the lessons of Prohibition," she said, noting that legislation that was meant to stop alcohol from causing harm in practice forced otherwise law-abiding customers into the hands of the bootleggers.

Under new British gambling laws, online operators have a "social responsibility" duty written into licenses and policed by the independent gambling commission watchdog.

It requires them to work to prevent underage gambling, give prominent warnings about addiction and inform users how much time and money they have spent on the site.

"Broadly speaking we have three choices: you can prohibit, like the U.S., do nothing or regulate, like we have," Jowell said. "I firmly believe we have chosen the path that will do the most to protect children and vulnerable people and keep out crime."

Article: Britain Attacks U.S. Online Gambling Ban