5 6 June 2006

News:

The remote gambling industry's growing frustration with the UK Government was made clear in a powerful speech by Clive Hawkswood, the Chief Executive of the Remote Gambling Association, at World Online Gambling Law Report's Summer Retreat 2006 at Tylney Hall in Hampshire.

Four Swedish editors who allegedly violated national gambling laws by running advertisements for foreign online gambling companies could face two-year prison sentences, according to a lawyer with Sweden's gambling authority, Lotteriinspektionen.

The Economic Development Department of the Government of Jersey is seeking to appoint three Shadow Gambling Commissioners as part of a drive to encourage internet gambling companies to locate on the channel island.

Features:

The attack on the UK Department of Culture, Media and Sport from Clive Hawkswood, the usually mild-mannered and diplomatic Chief Executive of the Remote Gambling Association, is a telling sign of the growing frustration of the industry with the Government.

In his speech at World Online Gambling Law Report's Summer Retreat, Clive Hawkswood, Chief Executive of the Remote Gambling Association, highlighted the industry's frustration with the lack of progress made in regulating online gambling in the UK.

The next few months will determine if the U.S. is to prohibit or regulate online gambling. Prohibitionists could face a number of obstacles in passing legislation to prohibit online gambling, argue Keith Furlong and Rick Smith of the Interactive Gaming Council.

The anti-gambling lobby has been successful in both the UK and the USA in harnessing public support for its aims and objectives, and Governments usually listen to their electorate. The online gambling industry has yet to harness the support of the vast members of the public that visit their sites. Nick Hawkins, a Barrister with Harris Hagan and a former Shadow Gambling Minister, explains how players could become a powerful lobbying force for the industry.

Despite the UK Government's intention to be the global regulator of choice through the Gambling Act 2005, its delay in addressing taxation may undermine this aim. In the first of three articles, Paul Eagland and Martin Dane of BDO Stoy Hayward LLP, consider UK regulation and the potential tax burdens that companies considering setting up in the UK could be subject to.

Companies operating in the online gaming sector face a variety of threats, both technical and human, from individuals keen to access their valuable information resources. John Lyons of the UC Group examines these threats and the issues that organisations should consider in order to counter them.

The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 broadly prohibits the advertisement of online gambling in domestic media. Jamie Nettleton and Kate Erman of Addisons explain that a lack of complaints and prosecutions either indicate that the prohibition has been achieved, or that prohibition is being ignored and not adequately enforced.

After detailed consultation with the Gambling Commission, BSkyB has recently launched its new interactive-TV gambling policy, which allows for the offering of a greater number of gambling products as well as a number of obligations to be complied with by operators. Belinda Palmer, solicitor for betting and gaming at BSkyB, explains the policy.