Government Bans Offshore Gambling Websites
About 1,000 offshore gambling websites, including William Hill Casino, Betfred Casino and Poker and Littlewoodscasino.com, have been banned from advertising in the UK.
The ban comes into effect on 1 September when the Gambling Act comes into force and applies to any gambling companies operating outside the European Economic Area.
Culture Secretary James Purnell said: “I make no apology for banning adverts for websites operating from places that don’t meet our strict standards. Protection is my number one priority.”
Countries can gain exemption from the ban by passing a test of regulatory standards, which allows them to then join a “white list”.
Gambling sites operating from companies on the “white list” will still be able to advertise in the UK.
The ban applies to all forms of media including TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, taxis, buses, the tube and websites that publish in the UK.
Earlier this week, NewsLine reported on the new voluntary code that has been drawn up by the gambling industry, which includes a ban on TV advertising before the 9pm watershed (see Gambling Industry Agrees Advertising Code).
Department for Culture Media and Sport: www.culture.gov.uk