The UK had just legalized online gambling with the idea of regulating it and so protecting their citizens. From this month, gambling on the internet is completely legal in the United Kingdom. The intention is to invite offshore casinos, which are currently based on third-world islands, to bring their business to the UK. As soon as the transition has taken place, the UK will be in a position to regulate and tax the 10 billion pound-a-year industry. Over the past year, the UK parliament has aggressively pursued laws to enable legalized and regulated online gambling on their shores. Taxation plans are currently being negotiated.

Many other countries like Italy, who first banned all forms of web based wagering, are now moving to complete legalization through proper regulation. Spain and South Africa are following suit, helping to make online gambling more acceptable to the global marketplace. Some countries, like Germany and France, are already leaning towards prohibition, but their purpose is to protect their land-based casino gambling operations. However, protectionism goes against European Union standards and many challenges lay ahead for the liberal continent.
At the opposite end of the debate, the United States has declared a prohibitive stance towards the industry citing moral issues as their argument and has passed the Safe Ports Law which includes a ban on online gambling. However, they do allow brick and mortar casinos, lotteries, bingo halls, and horse racing tracks to operate legally on their land. Of course, there are loud cries of “not fair!” and accusations are flowing freely about protecting those, senators included, who are in the horse racing industry.

The online gambling industry changes on a month to month basis. Keeping up with all the current events and latest newsworthy happenings takes time and devotion. Without a doubt the September happenings in the UK will have widespread effects on the rest of the world. This is wait and see time. In the meantime, and until the dust settles, why not log on and do a little online gambling just to keep your hand in and be ready for the day it all opens up?

Posted on: September 6, 2007

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